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.

And I have turned, and I see all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and lo, the tear of the oppressed, and they have no comforter; and at the hand of their oppressors power, and they have no comforter.

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

And I am praising the dead who have already died above 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 better than both of them he who hath not yet been, in that he hath not seen the evil work that hath been 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.

And I have seen all the labour, and all the benefit of the work, because for it a man is the envy of his neighbour. Even this vanity and vexation of spirit.

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

The fool is clasping his hands, and eating 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 a handful quietness, than two handfuls labour and vexation of spirit.'

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

And I have turned, and I see a vain thing 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 is one, and there is not a second; even son or brother he hath not, and there is no end to all his labour! His eye also is not satisfied with riches, and, `For whom am I labouring and bereaving my soul of good?' This also is vanity, it is a sad travail.

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

The two better than the one, in that they have a good reward by 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 raiseth up his companion, but wo to the one who falleth and there is not a second to raise him up!

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

Also, if two lie down, then they have heat, but how hath one heat?

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 the one strengthen himself, the two stand against him; and the threefold cord is not hastily 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 wise youth than an old and foolish king, who hath not known to be warned any more.

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

For from a house of prisoners he hath come out to reign, for even in his own kingdom he hath been poor.

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, who are walking under the sun, with the second youth who doth stand 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 is no end to all the people, to all who were before them; also, the latter rejoice not in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.