Ecclesiastes 6

1 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily on humanity: 2 God may give a person wealth, possessions, and glory so that he lacks nothing his soul desires, yet God does not empower him to enjoy them, and a stranger consumes them. This is futile and a grievous affliction. 3 A man may father a hundred children and live many years, however many the days of his years may be. But if his soul is not satisfied with good and he receives no burial, I say a miscarriage is better off than he is. 4 For it came in futility and departs in darkness, and its name is covered in darkness. 5 It has never seen the sun or known anything, yet it has more rest than that man. 6 Even if he lived through thousand-year cycles but did not enjoy good, do not all go to one place?

7 All a person’s toil is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not filled. 8 For what advantage does the wise have over the fool, since even the poor person knows how to conduct himself in life? 9 What the eyes see is better than the soul’s wandering. This too is futile and a restless striving of spirit. 10 Whatever has existed was already named, and what a person is has been made known. He cannot contend with one stronger than he is. 11 For there are many words that increase futility. What advantage does a person have? 12 Who knows what is good for someone in life, during the number of days of his futile life, which he spends like a shadow? Who can tell a person what will happen after him under the sun?