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The Evil of Oppression

¹ Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter.² So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.³ But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.

⁴ I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.⁵ The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.⁶ Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.

⁷ Again, I saw futility under the sun.⁸ There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.⁹ Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.¹⁰ For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!¹¹ Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?¹² And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

The Futility of Power

¹³ Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.¹⁴ For the youth has come from prison to be king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom.¹⁵ I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed this second child, who succeeded the king.¹⁶ There is no limit to all the people who were before them, yet those who come later will not rejoice in the successor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.