| 1 | 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 | Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead, More than the living who are still alive. | |
| 3 | Yet, better than both is he who has never existed, Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. | |
| 4 | 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 | The fool folds his hands And consumes his own flesh. | |
| 6 | Better a handful with quietness Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind. | |
| 7 | Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun: | |
| 8 | 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. | |
| 9 | Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. | |
| 10 | 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 | Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? | |
| 12 | Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. | |
| 13 | Better a poor and wise youth Than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more. | |
| 14 | For he comes out of prison to be king, Although he was born poor in his kingdom. | |
| 15 | I saw all the living who walk under the sun; They were with the second youth who stands in his place. | |
| 16 | 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. | |