1. There is another bad thing which I have seen under the sun, and it is hard for men:
2. God gives a man riches and many good things and honor, so that he has everything he wants. But He does not allow him to have joy from them, for a stranger has joy from them. This is for nothing, and is very bad.
3. If a man becomes the father of a hundred children and lives many years until he is very old, but he is not happy with good things, and is not buried as he should be, then I say that the child who dies before it is born is shown more favor than he.
4. For this child comes for nothing and goes into darkness, and in darkness its name is covered.
5. It never sees the sun and it never knows anything. It is better off than he.
6. Even if the other man lives a thousand years twice and does not find joy in good things, do not all go to the same place?
7. All a man's work is for his mouth, and yet his hunger is not filled.
8. For what is better for the wise man than for the fool? And what good does the poor man have who knows how to walk among the living?
9. What the eyes see is better than what there is a desire for. This also is for nothing, like trying to catch the wind.
10. Whatever has come to be has already been given a name. It is known what man is, and that he cannot argue with one who is stronger than he.
11. The more words there are, the more they are worth nothing. What good is that to anyone?
12. For who knows what is good for a man during his life, during the few years of his living for nothing? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will happen after he is gone under the sun?