1 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of |such as were| oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors |there was| power; but they had no comforter. 2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. 3 Yea, better |is he| than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. 4 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This |is| also vanity and vexation of spirit. 5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. 6 Better |is| an handful |with| quietness, than both the hands full |with| travail and vexation of spirit. 7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. 8 There is one |alone|, and |there is| not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet |is there| no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither |saith he|, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This |is| also vanity, yea, it |is| a sore travail. 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; for |he hath| not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm |alone|?And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 12 Better |is| a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. 13 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also |he that is| born in his kingdom becometh poor. 14 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. 15 |There is| no end of all the people, |even| of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also |is| vanity and vexation of spirit.