Ecclesiastes

There is an evil I have observed under the sun, and a grave one it is for mortals:

that God sometimes grants a man riches, property, and wealth, so that he does not want for anything his appetite may crave, but God does not permit him to enjoy it; instead, a stranger will enjoy it. That is futility and a grievous ill.

Even if a man should beget a hundred children and live many years—no matter how many the days of his years may come to, if his gullet is not sated through his wealth, I say: The stillbirth, though it was not even accorded a burial,anot even accorded a burial Stillbirths were cast into pits or hidden in the ground in no recognizable graves; cf. v. 4 end. is more fortunate than he.

Though it comes into futility and departs into darkness, and its very name is covered with darkness,

though it has never seen or experienced the sun, it is better off than he—

yes, even if the other lived a thousand years twice over but never had his fill of enjoyment! For are not both of them bound for the same place?

bCf. Prov. 16.26. All of a person’s earning is for [filling] the mouth, yet the gullet is not sated.

What advantage then have the wise over the foolish, what advantage have paupers who know how to get on in life?cyet the gullet is not sated. What advantage then have the wise over the foolish, what advantage have paupers who know how to get on in life? Meaning of Heb. uncertain; emendation yields “And if the gullet is not sated, 8what advantage have the wise over fools, those who know how to get on in life over paupers?”

dMeaning of first half of verse uncertain. Is the feasting of the eyes more important than the pursuit of desire? That, too, is futility and pursuit of wind.

Whatever happens, it was designated long ago and it was known that it would happen; as for humankind, they cannot contend with the One who is stronger than they are.

Often, much talk means much futility. How does it benefit a person?

Who can possibly know what is best for people to do in life—the few days of this fleeting life? ForeFor Lit. “according to the shadow that”; cf. Qumran Aramaic beṭel and Syriac meṭṭol; and see 8.13. who can tell what the future holds for them under the sun?