1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy on men: 2 a 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.

3 If 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; 4 for it comes in vanity, and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness. 5 Moreover it has not seen the sun nor known it. This has rest rather than the other. 6 Yes, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet fails to enjoy good, don’t all go to one place? 7 All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. 8 For what advantage has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that knows how to walk before the living? 9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind. 10 Whatever 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. 11 For there are many words that create vanity. What does that profit man? 12 For 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?

1 我看见日光之下有一件憾事, 重压在世人身上。

2 蒙 神赐予财富、资产和荣誉的人, 心里所愿的, 都一无所缺, 可是 神使他无力享用, 反而有外人来享用。这是虚空, 也是祸患。

3 人如果生下百子, 活了许多岁数, 年日长久, 但是心里不因美物满足, 又得不到安葬, 我以为流产的胎比他还好。

4 因为这胎虚虚而来, 暗暗而去, 黑暗把他的名字遮蔽了。

5 这胎既看不见天日, 又一无所知, 就比那人更得安息。

6 那人即使活了一千年, 再活一千年, 也享受不到什么; 他们两者不是都归一个地方吗?

7 人的一切劳碌都为口腹, 他的心却还是填不满。

8 智慧人比愚昧人有什么长处呢?穷人在众人面前知道怎样行事为人, 又有什么长处呢?

9 眼睛看见的, 胜过心中想望的。这也是虚空, 也是捕风。

10 已经存在的, 早已有了名称; 大家都知道人是怎样的; 人绝对无法与比自己强的抗辩。

11 因为话语增多, 虚空也增多, 这对人有什么益处呢?

12 在虚空、消逝如影的人生, 短暂的日子里, 有谁知道什么是对人有益处呢?谁能告诉人他死后在日光之下会发生什么事呢?