Read the Bible

The Evils of Oppression

¹ Then I looked again at all the acts of ^(C1)oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold, I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had ^(C2)no one to comfort them; and power was on the side of their oppressors, but they had no one to comfort them.² So ^(C1)I congratulated the dead who are already dead, more than the living who are still living.³ But ^(C1)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.

⁴ I have seen that every labor and every ^(C1)skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a person and his neighbor. This too is ^(C2)futility and striving after wind.⁵ The fool ^(C1)folds his hands and ^(C2)consumes his own flesh.⁶ One hand full of rest is ^(C1)better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.

⁷ Then I looked again at futility under the sun.⁸ There was a man without a ^(F1)dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, ^(C1)his eyes were not satisfied with riches, and he never asked, "And ^(C2)for whom do I labor and deprive myself of pleasure?" This too is futility, and it is an ^(C3)unhappy task.

⁹ Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor;¹⁰ for if ^(F1)either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not ^(F2)another to lift him up!¹¹ Furthermore, if two lie down together they ^(F1)keep warm, but ^(C1)how can one be warm alone?¹² And if ^(F1)one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

¹³ A ^(C1)poor yet wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive ^(F1)instruction—¹⁴ for he has come ^(C1)out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom.¹⁵ I have seen all those living under the sun move to the side of the second youth who ^(F1)replaces him.¹⁶ 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 ^(C1)futility and striving after wind.