| New King James Version | King James Bible |
| 1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: | 1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: |
| 2A man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing for himself of all he desires; yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but a foreigner consumes it. This is vanity, and it is an evil affliction. | 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. |
| 3If a man begets a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with goodness, or indeed he has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better than he— | 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. |
| 4for it comes in vanity and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness. | 4For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness. |
| 5Though it has not seen the sun or known anything, this has more rest than that man, | 5Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other. |
| 6even if he lives a thousand years twice—but has not seen goodness. Do not all go to one place? | 6Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place? |
| 7All the labor of man is for his mouth, And yet the soul is not satisfied. | 7All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. |
| 8For what more has the wise man than the fool? What does the poor man have, Who knows how to walk before the living? | 8For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living? |
| 9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. | 9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit. |
| 10Whatever one is, he has been named already, For it is known that he is man; And he cannot contend with Him who is mightier than he. | 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. |
| 11Since there are many things that increase vanity, How is man the better? | 11Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? |
| 12For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun? | 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? |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. |
|
    |