Ecclesiastes 6

yesh ra'ah asher ra'iti takhat hashamesh verabbah hi al-ha'adam

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

ish asher yitten-lo ha'elohim osher unekhasim vekhavod ve'enennu khaser lenafsho mikkol asher-yitavveh velo-yashlitennu ha'elohim le'ekhol mimmennu ki ish nokhri yokhelennu zeh hevel vokholi ra hu

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.

im-yolid ish me'ah veshanim rabbot yikhyeh verav sheyyihyu yeme-shanayw venafsho lo-tisba min-hattovah vegam-qevurah lo-hayetah lo amarti tov mimmennu hannafel

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, is more fortunate than he.

ki-vahevel ba uvakhoshekh yelekh uvakhoshekh shemo yekhusseh

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

gam-shemesh lo-ra'ah velo yada nakhat lazeh mizzeh

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

ve'illu khayah elef shanim pa'amayim vetovah lo ra'ah halo el-maqom ekhad hakkol holekh

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?

kol-amal ha'adam lefihu vegam-hannefesh lo timmale

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

ki mah-yyoter lekhakham min-hakkesil mah-lle'ani yodea lahalokh neged hakhayyim

What advantage then have the wise over the foolish, what advantage have paupers who know how to get on in life?

tov mareh enayim mehalokh-nafesh gam-zeh hevel ure'ut ruakh

Is the feasting of the eyes more important than the pursuit of desire? That, too, is futility and pursuit of wind.

mah-shehayah kevar niqra shemo venoda asher-hu adam velo-yukhal ladin im (shhtqyf) [shettaqqif] mimmennu

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.

ki yesh-devarim harbeh marbim havel mah-yyoter la'adam

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

ki mi-yodea mah-ttov la'adam bakhayyim mispar yeme-khayye hevlo veya'asem katsel asher mi-yaggid la'adam mah-yyihyeh akharayw takhat hashamesh

Who can possibly know what is best for people to do in life—the few days of this fleeting life? For who can tell what the future holds for them under the sun?