1 Again I looked and saw all the oppression that is done under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter. Power was on the side of their oppressors, and they had 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 And I praised the dead who had already died, 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 But better than both is the one who has not yet been born, who has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

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 And I saw that all toil and all skill in work are driven by one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after 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 The fool folds his hands and ruins himself.

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

6 Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.

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

7 Again, I turned and saw meaninglessness under the sun.

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

8 There was a man all alone. He had no son or brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. 'For whom am I toiling,' he asked, 'and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?' This too is meaningless—a miserable business!

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

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

10 For if either of them falls, the one will help up his companion. But woe to the one who falls and 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 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?

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

12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

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

13 Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning.

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

14 For he came out of prison to become king, though 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 following the youth, the second one, who replaces him.

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

16 There is no end to all the people who were before them, yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. This too is meaningless, a chasing after 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.

17 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.