[1] And again I saw all the cruel things which are done under the sun;
there was the weeping of those who have evil done to them, and they had no
comforter: and from the hands of the evil-doers there went out power, but
they had no comforter. [2] So my praise was for the dead who have gone to
their death, more than for the living who still have life. [3] Yes, happier
than the dead or the living seemed he who has not ever been, who has not
seen the evil which is done under the sun. [4] And I saw that the cause of
all the work and of everything which is done well was man's envy of his
neighbour. This again is to no purpose and a desire for wind. [5] The
foolish man, folding his hands, takes the flesh of his body for food. [6]
One hand full of rest is better than two hands full of trouble and desire
for wind. [7] Then I came back, and I saw an example of what is to no
purpose under the sun. [8] It is one who is by himself, without a second,
and without son or brother; but there is no end to all his work, and he has
never enough of wealth. For whom, then, am I working and keeping myself
from pleasure? This again is to no purpose, and a bitter work. [9] Two are
better than one, because they have a good reward for their work. [10] And
if one has a fall, the other will give him a hand; but unhappy is the man
who is by himself, because he has no helper. [11] So again, if two are
sleeping together they are warm, but how may one be warm by himself? [12]
And two attacked by one would be safe, and three cords twisted together are
not quickly broken. [13] A young man who is poor and wise is better than a
king who is old and foolish and will not be guided by the wisdom of others.
[14] Because out of a prison the young man comes to be king, though by
birth he was only a poor man in the kingdom. [15] I saw all the living
under the sun round the young man who was to be ruler in place of the king.
[16] There was no end of all the people, of all those whose head he was,
but they who come later will have no delight in him. This again is to no
purpose and desire for wind. [17] \5:1\Put your feet down with care when
you go to the house of God, for it is better to give ear than to make the
burned offerings of the foolish, whose knowledge is only of doing evil.
