New American Standard Bible NAS
New International Version NIV
1 Then I looked again at all the acts of oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had no one to comfort them; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort them.
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Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed— and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors— and they have no comforter.
2 So I congratulated the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still living.
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And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive.
3 But better off than both of them is the one who has never existed, who has never seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.
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But better than both is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.
4 I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after wind.
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And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
5 The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.
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Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves.
6 One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.
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Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.
7 Then I looked again at vanity under the sun.
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Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:
8 There was a certain man without a dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, "And for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure?" This too is vanity and it is a grievous task.
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There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor 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!
9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.
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Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
10 For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.
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If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.