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

So I thought that those who are already dead are better off than those 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 than both is the one who has never been, who has never seen the wrong 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 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 rest than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

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

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

Then I looked again at what is of no use 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 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 better reward for their labour.

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 that is alone when he falls, for he has not another to help 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 sleep together, then they have heat, 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 if one prevails against him, two shall withstand him; and 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 ¶ Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king who will no longer be admonished.

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

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

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 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 gather to the side of the boy who becomes king in his place.

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 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.