1 ¶ 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.

And I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors was power, and they had no comforter.

2 T herefore I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive.

Then I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive;

3 A nd 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.

and more fortunate than both is he who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

4 ¶ 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.

And I saw all labour, and all success of work, that it is man's jealousy of his neighbour. This also is vanity and pursuit of the wind.

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

The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

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

Better is a handful with quietness, than both hands full with labour and pursuit of the wind.

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

And I returned and saw vanity under the sun.

8 I t 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.

There is one and without a second; also he hath neither son nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches, and, For whom then am I labouring, and depriving my soul of good? This also is vanity and a grievous occupation.

9 T wo are better than one because they have a better reward for their labour.

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

10 F or 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.

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and who hath not another to lift him up!

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

Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one alone be warm?

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

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

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

Better is a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth no more how to be admonished.

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

For out of the prison-house he came forth to reign, although he was born poor in his kingdom.

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

I saw all the living that walk under the sun, with the child, the second, that should stand up in his stead.

16 T here 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.

no end of all the people, of all that stood before them; those however that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after the wind.