1 T hen 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.

So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

2 T herefore I praised the dead who were already dead, More than the living who are still alive.

Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.

3 Y et, 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

Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

4 A gain, 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.

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 And consumes his own flesh.

The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

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

Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

7 T hen I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun:

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

8 T here 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

There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child 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, yea, it is a 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 good reward for their labour.

10 F or 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.

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

11 A gain, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?

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

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

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

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

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

14 F or he comes out of prison to be king, Although he was born poor in his kingdom.

For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.

15 I saw all the living who walk under the sun; They were with the second youth who stands in his place.

I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.

16 T here 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.

There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.