| King James Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: | 1Here is a tragedy I have observed under the sun, and it weighs heavily on humanity: |
| 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. | 2God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor so that he lacks nothing of all he desires for himself, but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a sickening tragedy. |
| 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. | 3A man may father a hundred children and live many years. No matter how long he lives, if he is not satisfied by good things and does not even have a proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. |
| 4For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness. | 4For he comes in futility and he goes in darkness, and his name is shrouded in darkness. |
| 5Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other. | 5Though a stillborn child does not see the sun and is not conscious, it has more rest than he. |
| 6Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place? | 6And if he lives a thousand years twice, but does not experience happiness, do not both go to the same place? |
| 7All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. | 7All man's labor is for his stomach, yet the appetite is never satisfied. |
| 8For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living? | 8What advantage then does the wise man have over the fool? What advantage is there for the poor person who knows how to conduct himself before others? |
| 9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit. | 9Better what the eyes see than wandering desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. |
| 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. | 10Whatever exists was given its name long ago, and it is known what man is. But he is not able to contend with the One stronger than he. |
| 11Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? | 11For when there are many words, they increase futility. What is the advantage for man? |
| 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? | 12For who knows what is good for man in life, in the few days of his futile life that he spends like a shadow? Who can tell man what will happen after him under the sun? |
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