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¹ And I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors was power, and they had no comforter.

² Then I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive;

³ and more fortunate than both is he who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

⁴ And I saw all labour, and all success of work, that it is man's jealousy of his neighbour. This also is vanity and pursuit of the wind.

⁵ The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

⁶ Better is a handful with quietness, than both hands full with labour and pursuit of the wind.

⁷ And I returned and saw vanity under the sun.

⁸ There is one [alone] and without a second; also he hath neither son nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches, and [he saith not], For whom then am I labouring, and depriving my soul of good? This also is vanity and a grievous occupation.

⁹ Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

¹⁰ For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and who hath not another to lift him up!

¹¹ Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one alone be warm?

¹² And if a [man] overpower the one, the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

¹³ Better is a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth no more how to be admonished.

¹⁴ For out of the prison-house he came forth to reign, although he was born poor in his kingdom.

¹⁵ I saw all the living that walk under the sun, with the child, the second, that should stand up in his stead.

¹⁶ [There is] no end of all the people, of all that stood before them; those however that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after the wind.