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.

Then I looked again at all the acts of oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had no one to comfort them; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort them.

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

So I congratulated the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still living.

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.

But better off than both of them is the one who has never existed, who has never seen the evil activity 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.

I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after wind.

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

The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.

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

One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.

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

Then I looked again at 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 was a certain man without a dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, “And for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure?” This too is vanity and it is a grievous task.

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 return for their labor.

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 either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.

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

Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone ?

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

And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

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

A poor yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction.

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

For he has come out of prison to become king, even though 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 have seen all the living under the sun throng to the side of the second lad who replaces him.

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.

There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them, and even the ones who will come later will not be happy with him, for this too is vanity and striving after wind.