Eclesiastés 6
Young's Literal Translation
1There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it [is] great on man:
2A man to whom God giveth wealth, and riches, and honour, and there is no lack to his soul of all that he desireth, and God giveth him not power to eat of it, but a stranger eateth it; this [is] vanity, and it [is] an evil disease.
3If a man doth beget a hundred, and live many years, and is great, because they are the days of his years, and his soul is not satisfied from the goodness, and also he hath not had a grave, I have said, 'Better than he [is] the untimely birth.'
4For in vanity he came in, and in darkness he goeth, and in darkness his name is covered,
5Even the sun he hath not seen nor known, more rest hath this than that.
6And though he had lived a thousand years twice over, yet good he hath not seen; to the same place doth not every one go?
7All the labour of man [is] for his mouth, and yet the soul is not filled.
8For what advantage [is] to the wise above the fool? What to the poor who knoweth to walk before the living?
9Better [is] the sight of the eyes than the going of the soul. This also [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.
10What [is] that which hath been? already is its name called, and it is known that it [is] man, and he is not able to contend with him who is stronger than he.
11For there are many things multiplying vanity; what advantage [is] to man?
12For who knoweth what [is] good for a man in life, the number of the days of the life of his vanity, and he maketh them as a shadow? for who declareth to man what is after him under the sun?
Reina-Valera 1909
1HAY un mal que he visto debajo del cielo, y muy común entre los hombres:
2Hombre á quien Dios dió riquezas, y hacienda, y honra, y nada le falta de todo lo que su alma desea; mas Dios no le dió facultad de comer de ello, sino que los extraños se lo comen. Esto vanidad es, y enfermedad trabajosa.
3Si el hombre engendrare ciento, y viviere muchos años, y los días de su edad fueren numerosos; si su alma no se hartó del bien, y también careció de sepultura, yo digo que el abortivo es mejor que él.
4Porque en vano vino, y á tinieblas va, y con tinieblas será cubierto su nombre.
5Aunque no haya visto el sol, ni conocido nada, más reposo tiene éste que aquél.
6Porque si viviere aquél mil años dos veces, si no ha gozado del bien, cierto todos van á un lugar.
7Todo el trabajo del hombre es para su boca, y con todo eso su alma no se harta.
8Porque ¿qué más tiene el sabio que el necio? ¿qué más tiene el pobre que supo caminar entre los vivos?
9Más vale vista de ojos que deseo que pasa. Y también esto es vanidad y aflicción de espíritu.
10El que es, ya su nombre ha sido nombrado; y se sabe que es hombre, y que no podrá contender con el que es más fuerte que él.
11Ciertamente las muchas palabras multiplican la vanidad. ¿Qué más tiene el hombre?
12Porque ¿quién sabe cuál es el bien del hombre en la vida, todos los días de la vida de su vanidad, los cuales él pasa como sombra? Porque ¿quién enseñará al hombre qué será después de él debajo del sol?
King James Version
1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:
2A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
3If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.
4For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.
5Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.
6Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?
7All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
8For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
10That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.
11Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
12For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
World English Bible
1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy on men:
2a man to whom God gives riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God gives him no power to eat of it, but an alien eats it. This is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
3If a man fathers a hundred children, and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not filled with good, and moreover he has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better than he;
4for it comes in vanity, and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness.
5Moreover it has not seen the sun nor known it. This has rest rather than the other.
6Yes, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet fails to enjoy good, don’t all go to one place?
7All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
8For what advantage has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that knows how to walk before the living?
9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
10Whatever has been, its name was given long ago; and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is mightier than he.
11For there are many words that create vanity. What does that profit man?
12For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spends like a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?