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 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.

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

Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead, More than the living who are still alive.

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.

Yet, 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

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.

Again, 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.

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.

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

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

Then I returned, and I saw 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 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

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 reward 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 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.

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

Again, if two lie down together, they will 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.

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

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

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

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

For he comes out of prison to be king, Although 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 saw all the living who walk under the sun; They were with the second youth who stands in his place.

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 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.