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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 power was on the side of their oppressors, but they had no one to comfort them.

So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

So I congratulated the dead who are already dead, more than the living who are still living.

Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.

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.

Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a person and his neighbor. This too is futility and striving after wind.

Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.

The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.

Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

Then I looked again at futility under the sun.

Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

There was a 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 do I labor and deprive myself of pleasure?" This too is futility, and it is an unhappy task.

There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor;

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

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!

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?

Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

A poor yet wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction—

Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

for he has come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom.

For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.

I have seen all those living under the sun move to the side of the second youth who replaces him.

I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.

There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them. Even the ones who will come later will not be happy with him; for this too is futility and striving after wind.

There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.