Chapter summary

The text describes an evil observed under the sun where God gives a man wealth and honor, yet denies him the ability to enjoy it, leaving it to a stranger instead. The speaker notes that a man might have many children and live a long life, but if he remains unsatisfied and lacks a proper burial, a stillborn child is considered better off than he is. All human labor serves the mouth, yet appetite remains unsatisfied, raising questions about the advantage of the wise over the fool or the poor man who knows how to conduct himself. The passage states that what the eye sees is better than the wandering of desire, which is described as a futile pursuit of the wind. Everything that exists was named long ago, and mankind cannot contend with someone stronger, as numerous words only increase futility. Finally, the text questions who knows what is truly good for a man during his fleeting, shadow-like days or what will come after him under the sun.

Summary automatically generated from the Bible text.