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¹ Then again, I, considered all the oppressive deeds which were done under the sun, - and lo! the tears of the oppressed, and they have no comforter, and, on the side of their oppressing, is power, and they have no comforter.² So, I, pronounced happy the dead, who were, already, dead, - more than the living, who were living, still;³ and, as better than both, him who had not yet come into being, - who had not seen the vexatious work, which was done under the sun.

⁴ Then saw, I, all the toil and all the skill of the work, that, for this, a man was envied of his neighbour, - even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.⁵ The dullard, claspeth his hands, and consumeth his own flesh.⁶ Better a handful - with quietness, - than both hands, full - with toil, and feeding on wind.

⁷ Then again, I, looked at a vain thing under the sun: - ⁸ Here is one, without a second, even son or brother, he hath none, yet is there no end to all his toil, even his eye, is not satisfied with riches, - neither saith he For whom, am I toiling, and letting my soul want good? Even this, was vanity, yea a vexatious employment, it was!⁹ Better are two, than one, - in that they have a good reward for their toil.¹⁰ For, if the one should fall, the other would raise up his companion, - but alas! for him who is alone when he falleth, with no second to raise him up!¹¹ Moreover, if two lie together, then have they warmth, - but how can, one, have warmth?¹² And, though an enemy should prevail against one, two, might make a stand before him, - and, a threefold cord, cannot soon be broken.

¹³ Better a boy poor and wise, - than a king, old and stupid, who knoweth not how to take warning any longer.¹⁴ For, out of prison, came he forth to reign, yea, even in his own kingdom, was he born poor.¹⁵ I saw all the living, who were going hither and thither under the sun, - that they were with the boy who was to be the second, who was to stand in the other's place: - ¹⁶ There was no end to all the people, to all before whom he came, yet, they who should come later, would not rejoice in him, - surely, even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.