1 T hen I returned and considered all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun: And I beheld the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no comforter.

¶ So I returned and considered all the violence that is done under the sun and behold the tears of such as are oppressed, and they have no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but the oppressed had no comforter.

2 S o I praised and thought more fortunate those who have been long dead than the living, who are still alive.

Therefore I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive.

3 B ut better than them both is he who has not yet been born, who has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

And I thought that better is he than both of them who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil works that are done under the sun.

4 T hen I saw that all painful effort in labor and all skill in work comes from man’s rivalry with his neighbor. This is also vanity, a vain striving after the wind and a feeding on it.

¶ Again, I considered all travail and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

5 T he fool folds his hands together and eats his own flesh.

The fool folds his hands together and eats his own flesh.

6 B etter is a handful with quietness than both hands full with painful effort, a vain striving after the wind and a feeding on it.

Better is a handful with rest than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

7 T hen I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

¶ Then I returned, and I saw another vanity under the sun.

8 H ere is one alone—no one with him; he neither has child nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labor, neither is his eye satisfied with riches, neither does he ask, For whom do I labor and deprive myself of good? This is also vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility); yes, it is a painful effort and an unhappy business.

It is the man who is alone, without a successor, who has neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity and sore travail.

9 T wo are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor;

Two are better than one because they have a better reward for their labour.

10 F or if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falls, for he has not another to help him up.

11 A gain, if two lie down together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone?

Again, if two sleep together, then they have heat, but how can one be warm alone?

12 A nd though a man might prevail against him who is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.

And if one prevails against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

13 B etter is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive counsel (friendly reproof and warning)—

¶ Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king who will no longer be admonished.

14 E ven though comes out of prison to reign, while the other, born a king, becomes needy.

For he came out of prison to reign, even though he was born poor into his kingdom.

15 I saw all the living who walk under the sun with the youth who was to stand up in the king’s stead.

I saw all the living who are under the sun walking with the child, the successor that shall stand up in his stead.

16 T here was no end to all the people; he was over all of them. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity (emptiness, falsity, vainglory) and a striving after the wind and a feeding on it.

There is no end of all the people that have been before them; those also that come after shall not be content in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.