1 Then I lookedagain at all the acts of 1oppressionwhich were being doneunder the sun. And behold I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had2noone to comfort them; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they hadnoone to comfort them.
2
So 3I congratulated the deadwho are alreadydeadmorethan the livingwho are stillliving.
3
But 4better off thanboth of them is the one who has neverexisted, who has neverseen the evilactivity that is doneunder the sun.
4
I have seen that everylabor and every5skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. Thistoo is 6vanity and striving after wind.
5
The fool7folds his hands and 8consumes his own flesh.
6
One handfull of rest is 9betterthan two fistsfull of labor and striving after wind.
8
There was a certainmanwithout a dependent, havingneither* a sonnor a brother, yet there was noend to all his labor. Indeed, 10his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, "And 11for whom am I laboring and deprivingmyself of pleasure?" Thistoo is vanity and it is a 12grievoustask.
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Two are betterthanonebecause they have a goodreturn for their labor.
10
For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the onewhofalls when there is not another to lift him up.
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Furthermore, iftwoliedown together they keepwarm, but 13how can one be warm alone?
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And ifone can overpower him who is alone, two can resist* him. A cord of three strands is not quicklytornapart.
13
A 14poor yet wiselad is betterthan an old and foolishkingwhonolongerknows how to receiveinstruction.
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For he has come15out of prison* to becomeking, eventhough he was bornpoor in his kingdom.
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I have seenall the livingunder the sunthrong to the side of the secondladwhoreplaces* him.
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There is noend to all the people, to allwho were before them, and even the oneswho will comelater will not be happy with him, for thistoo is 16vanity and striving after wind.