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¹ SO I turned and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun; and behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter to deliver them from the hand of their oppressors, having neither strength nor helper.² Wherefore I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still alive.³ But, better is he who has not yet been born than both of them, because he has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

⁴ Then I saw that all the labor and all the work is successful because a man is more zealous than his neighbor. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.⁵ The fool folds his hands together and suffers hunger.⁶ Better is a handful with quietness than both hands full with toil and vexation of spirit.

⁷ Then I turned, and I saw vanity under the sun.⁸ When there is but one man, and not a second, and he has neither son nor brother, there is no end to all his labor. Neither are his eves satisfied with riches; neither does he say, For whom am I laboring and denying myself good things? This is also vanity, and a grievous vexation.⁹ Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor;¹⁰ For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls; for there is none to lift him up.¹¹ Again, if two sleep together, they will be warm; but how can one be warm alone?¹² And if one is too strong for him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

¹³ Better is a youth who is poor and wise than a king who is old and foolish, and does not know how to receive admonition.¹⁴ Out of prison he has come to reign, because also in his own kingdom he had been born miserable.¹⁵ I considered all the living who walk under the sun, with the young men, who shall rise up in their place.¹⁶ There is no end of all the people, even of all who have been before them; and those also who come after shall not rejoice in them. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.