Is there a thing, of which it can be said, See here, it is, new? Already, hath it been, for ages, it is something which was before us.

For here is a man, whose toil hath been with wisdom and with knowledge and with skill, - yet, to a man who hath not toiled therein, shall he leave it as his portion, even this, was vanity and a great vexation.

Here is one, without a second, even son or brother, he hath none, yet is there no end to all his toil, even his eye, is not satisfied with riches, - neither saith he For whom, am I toiling, and letting my soul want good? Even this, was vanity, yea a vexatious employment, it was!

Here was an incurable evil, I had seen under the sun, riches kept by the owner thereof, to his hurt;

Here was an evil, I had seen under the sun, - and it is, common, among men:

Everything, had I seen, in my days of vanity, - Here was a righteous man, perishing in his righteousness, and there was a lawless man, continuing long in his wickedness.

Here was a vain thing which was done upon the earth - that there were righteous men unto whom it happened according to the work of the lawless, and there were lawless men, unto whom it happened according to the work of the righteous, - I said, that, even this, was vanity.

Here was a misfortune I had seen under the sun, - a veritable mistake that was going forth from the presence of one who had power: