1 T hen 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.

¶ 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.

2 T herefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.

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

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

And 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.

4 T hen 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.

¶ 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.

5 T he fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.

The fool folds his hands together and eats his own flesh.

6 B etter is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.

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

7 T hen I returned and saw vanity under the sun.

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

8 T here 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.

It 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.

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 better reward for their labour.

10 F or 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.

For 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I saw all the living who are under the sun walking with the child, the successor that shall stand up in his stead.

16 T here 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.

There 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.