Then I looked again
at all
the acts
of aoppression
which
were being done
under
the sun
. And behold
I saw the tears
of the oppressed
and that they had
bno
one
to comfort
them; and on the side
of their oppressors
was power
, but they had
no
one
to comfort
them.
So aI congratulated the dead
who
are already
dead
more
than
the living
who
are still
living
.
But abetter 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
.
I have seen that every
labor
and every
askill
which is done
is the result of rivalry
between a man
and his neighbor
. This
too
is 1 bvanity
and striving
after wind
.
The fool afolds
his hands
and bconsumes
his own flesh
.
One hand full
of rest
is abetter
than
two fists
full
of labor
and striving
after wind
.
Then I looked again
at vanity
under
the sun
.
There was a certain
man
without
a 1dependent
, having
neither
a son
nor
a brother
, yet there
was no
end
to all
his labor
. Indeed
, ahis eyes
were not satisfied
with riches
and he never asked, "And bfor whom
am I laboring
and depriving
myself
of pleasure
?" This
too
is vanity
and it is a cgrievous
task
.
Two are better
than
one
because
they have
a good
return
for their labor
.
For if 1either of them falls
, the one
will lift
up his companion
. But woe
to the one
who
falls
when there
is not 2another
to lift
him up.
Furthermore, if
two
lie
down
together they 1keep
warm
, but ahow
can one
be warm
alone?
And if 1one
can overpower
him who
is alone, two
can resist
him. A cord
of three
strands is not quickly
torn
apart
.
A apoor yet wise
lad
is better
than
an old
and foolish
king
who
no
longer
knows
how to receive
1instruction
.
For he has come aout of prison
to become
king
, even
though
he was born
poor
in his kingdom
.
I have seen all
the living
under
the sun
throng
to the side
of the second
lad
who
1replaces
him.
There is no
end
to all
the people
, to all
who
were before
them, and even
the ones
who
will come
later
will not be happy
with him, for this
too
is avanity
and striving
after wind
.