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 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.

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

So I thought that those who are already dead are better off than those 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 than both is the one who has never been, who has never seen the wrong 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 all the work done is because a man wants what his neighbor has. This also is for nothing, like trying to catch the wind.

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

The fool folds his hands and has no food to eat.

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 hands full of work and trying to catch the wind.

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

Then I looked again at what is of no use 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 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

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

Two are better than one, because they have good pay for their work.

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 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.

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

And 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.

One 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.

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

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

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

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 gather to the side of the boy who becomes king in his place.

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 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.