1 T hen 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.

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 S o I thought that those who are already dead are better off than those who are still living.

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

3 B ut better than both is the one who has never been, who has never seen the wrong that is 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 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.

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 and has no food to eat.

The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.

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

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

7 T hen I looked again at what is of no use under the sun.

Then I looked again at vanity under the sun.

8 T here 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

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 good pay for their work.

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

10 F or 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.

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 nd if two lie down together, they keep warm. But how can one be warm alone?

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

12 O ne 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.

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

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

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

14 A man can come out of prison to become king, even if he was born poor in his nation.

For he has come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom.

15 I have seen all the living under the sun gather to the side of the boy who becomes king in his place.

I have seen all the living under the sun throng to the side of the second lad who replaces him.

16 T here 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.

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.