Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And
behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort
them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there
was no one to comfort them. And I thought the dead who are already
dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. But better
than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil
deeds that are done under the sun.
Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's
envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after
wind.
The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.
Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and
a striving after wind.
Again, I saw vanity under the sun: one person who has no other,
either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his
eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For
whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is
vanity and an unhappy business.
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for
their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe
to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him
up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one
keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is
alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly
broken.
Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who
no longer knew how to take advice. For he went from prison to the
throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. I saw all
the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who
was to stand in the king's place. There was no end of all the
people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not
rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after
wind.
