1 T hen I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun: And look! The tears of the oppressed, But they have no comforter— On the side of their oppressors there is power, But they have no comforter.

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

2 T herefore I praised the dead who were already dead, More than the living who are still alive.

Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.

3 Y et, better than both is he who has never existed, Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. The Vanity of Selfish Toil

Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

4 A gain, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

5 T he fool folds his hands And consumes his own flesh.

The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.

6 B etter a handful with quietness Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind.

Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.

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

Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.

8 T here is one alone, without companion: He has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labors, Nor is his eye satisfied with riches. But he never asks, “For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?” This also is vanity and a grave misfortune. The Value of a Friend

There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then, do I labor, and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.

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

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.

10 F or if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift him up.

11 A gain, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?

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

12 T hough one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Popularity Passes Away

If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

13 B etter a poor and wise youth Than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more.

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more.

14 F or he comes out of prison to be king, Although he was born poor in his kingdom.

For out of prison he came out to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor.

15 I saw all the living who walk under the sun; They were with the second youth who stands in his place.

I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him.

16 T here was no end of all the people over whom he was made king; Yet those who come afterward will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was—yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.