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.

Then I saw all the bad powers that were ruling under the sun. I saw the tears of the people who were suffering under these powers, with no one to comfort them. Those who made it hard for them had the power. But the people had no one to comfort them.

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

So I thought that those who are already dead are better off than those who are still living.

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.

But better than both is the one who has never been, who has never seen the wrong that is 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.

I have seen that all the work done is because a man wants what his neighbor has. This also is for nothing, like trying to catch the wind.

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

The fool folds his hands and has no food to eat.

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.

One hand full of rest is better than two hands full of work and trying to catch the wind.

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

Then I looked again at what is of no use 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.

There was a certain man who lived alone. He did not have a son or a brother. Yet he worked all the time. His eyes were never happy with the riches he had, and he never asked, “For whom am I working and why am I keeping myself from happiness?” This also is for nothing. It is work that brings sorrow. A True Friend

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

Two are better than one, because they have good pay for their work.

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 one of them falls, the other can help him up. But it is hard for the one who falls when there is no one to lift him up.

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

And if two lie down together, they keep warm. 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.

One man is able to have power over him who is alone, but two can stand against him. It is not easy to break a rope made of three strings.

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)—

A poor and wise boy is better than an old and foolish king who will no longer listen to words of wisdom.

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

A man can come out of prison to become king, even if he was born poor in his nation.

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 have seen all the living under the sun gather to the side of the boy who becomes king in his place.

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 was no end to all the people. He ruled over all of them. Yet those who come later will not be happy with him. For this also is for nothing, like trying to catch the wind.