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.

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

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

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.

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 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.

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 together and ruins himself.

The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.

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

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

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

Then I looked again at 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.

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 a good reward for their labor.

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

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

Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, 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 can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

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.

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

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

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