For who knoweth what is good for man in 'his' 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?
What nede is it to a man to seke grettere thingis than hym silf; siþen he knowith not, what schal bifalle to hym in his lijf, in þe noumbre of daies of his pilgrimage, and in þe tyme þat passith as schadowe? eþer who may schewe to hym, what thing vndur sunne schal come aftir hym?