Jubilee Bible 2000 JUB
New International Version NIV
1 So I returned and considered all the violence that is done under the sun and behold the tears of <em>such as are</em> oppressed, and they have no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors <em>there was</em> power; but the <em>oppressed</em> had no comforter.
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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 Therefore I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive.
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And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive.
3 And <em>I thought that</em> better <em>is he</em> than both of them who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil works that are 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 Again, I considered all travail and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This <em>is</em> also vanity and vexation of spirit.
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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 together and eats his own flesh.
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Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves.
6 Better <em>is</em> a handful <em>with</em> rest than both the hands full <em>with</em> travail and vexation of spirit.
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Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.
7 Then I returned, and I saw <em>another</em> vanity under the sun.
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Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:
8 It is the <em>man</em> who is alone, without a successor, who has neither son nor brother; yet <em>is there</em> no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither <em>saith he</em>, For whom do I labour and bereave my soul of good? This <em>is</em> also vanity and sore travail.
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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 <em>are</em> better than one because they have a better reward for their labour.
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Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him <em>that is</em> alone when he falls, for <em>he has</em> not another to help 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.
11 Again, if two sleep together, then they have heat, but how can one be warm <em>alone</em>?
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Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?
12 And if one prevails against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
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Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
13 Better <em>is</em> a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king who will no longer be admonished.
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Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning.
14 For he came out of prison to reign, even though he was born poor into his kingdom.
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The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom.
15 I saw all the living who are under the sun walking with the child, the successor that shall stand up in his stead.
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I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor.
16 <em>There is</em> no end of all the people that have been before them; those also that come after shall not be content in him. Surely this also <em>is</em> vanity and vexation of spirit.
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There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010
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.