[1] I have seen something else wrong here on earth that causes serious problems for people. [2] God gives great wealth, riches, and honor to some people; they have everything they want. But God does not let them enjoy such things; a stranger enjoys them instead. This is useless and very wrong. [3] A man might have a hundred children and live a long time, but what good is it if he can't enjoy the good God gives him or have a proper burial? I say a baby born dead is better off than he is. [4] A baby born dead is useless. It returns to darkness without even a name. [5] That baby never saw the sun and never knew anything, but it finds more rest than that man. [6] Even if he lives two thousand years, he doesn't enjoy the good God gives him. Everyone is going to the same place. [7] People work just to feed themselves, but they never seem to get enough to eat. [8] In this way a wise person is no better off than a fool. Then, too, it does a poor person little good to know how to get along in life. [9] It is better to see what you have than to want more. Wanting more is useless- like chasing the wind. [10] Whatever happens was planned long ago. Everyone knows what people are like. No one can argue with God, who is stronger than anyone. [11] The more you say, the more useless it is. What good does it do? [12] People have only a few useless days of life on the earth; their short life passes like a shadow. Who knows what is best for them while they live? Who can tell them what the future will bring?
