1Then I turned again and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And look — the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and from the hand of their oppressors came power, and they had no comforter.
2So I praised the dead who had already died, more than the living who are still alive.
3But better than both of them is the one who has not yet come to be, who has not seen the evil deed that is done under the sun.
4And I saw that all toil and all skill in work — that this is the envy of a man toward his neighbor. This too is vapor and a chasing after wind.
5The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.
6Better a handful with rest than two fistfuls with toil and a chasing after wind.
7Then I turned again and saw vapor under the sun:
8There is one alone, without a second — also no son or brother has he — yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are not satisfied with wealth. “And for whom am I toiling and depriving myself of good?” This too is vapor, and it is a grievous business.
9Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.
10For if they fall, the one will lift up his companion; but woe to the one who falls and has no second to lift him up.
11Again, if two lie down together, they keep warm; but how can one alone keep warm?
12And if someone overpowers one, the two will stand against him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13Better a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to take warning.
14For out of the prison house he came to reign, though even in his kingdom he had been born poor.
15I saw all the living who walk about under the sun, siding with the second youth who would stand in his place.
16There was no end to all the people, to all who were before them; yet those who come after will not rejoice in him. Surely this too is vapor and a chasing after wind.
Open in the interactive reader →