Open English Translation ECC Chapter 6

6 There’s a problem in this world

and it troubles people:

2 God gives wealth and possessions and prestige to someone,

and that person has access to everything they want,

but God doesn’t allow them to enjoy it—

instead a foreigner will get to enjoy it.

That’s totally pointless, and it’s senseless and unfair.

3 If a man should father a hundred children

and live many years however long his life might be,

but he’s not satisfied in himself by his prosperity

and he doesn’t have anywhere to be buried,

then I’d say that a stillborn child would have been better off than him,

4 because that child came for no reason

and it went in darkness, and its name will be covered in darkness.

5 It didn’t even see the sun or know about it.

It’ll rest easier than that man will.

6 Even if that man lived a thousand years twice over,

but never saw good in anything,

aren’t they both going to the same place?

7 All of humanity’s work is for their mouth,

but the inner cravings are never fulfilled.

8 So what advantage does a wise person have over a fool?

What advantage does a poor person’s knowledge give them over others?

9 It’s better to enjoy what’s right there than to feed the imagination.

That’s also pointless and chasing after the wind.

10 Everything that existed has already been named.

It’s known what humankind is

and that humans can’t dispute with the one who’s stronger than them.

11 Yes, many words just become more pointless.

What advantage is that to anyone?

12 Who knows what’s good for a person

for those pointless days that he/she lives?

The days pass by like a shadow

but who can tell anyone what will happen to them next in this world?