1 Then I looked again at all the oppression that goes on under the sun: see, the tears of the oppressed, and they have no comforter; on the side of their oppressors is power, and they have no comforter.
2 And I judged the dead, who died long ago, more fortunate than the living, who are alive still.
3 But better off than both is the one who has never existed, who has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
4 And I saw that all labor and all achievement springs from a man's rivalry with his neighbor. This too is vanity and a chasing of the wind.
5 The fool folds his hands and devours his own flesh.
6 Better one handful with quiet than two handfuls with labor and a chasing of the wind.
7 Again I saw vanity under the sun:
8 There is a man all alone, without a companion; he has no son or brother, yet his labor never ends, and his eyes are never content with wealth. "For whom am I laboring," he asks, "and denying myself good things?" This too is vanity and an unhappy business.
9 Two are better off than one, for they have a good return for their labor.
10 If either of them falls, the other can lift his companion up; but pity the one who is by himself when he falls, with no one to lift him up!
11 Again, when two lie down side by side, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?
12 And though one may be overpowered, two can withstand him; a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
13 Better a poor youth who is wise than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to take advice.
14 For the youth came out of prison to become king, even though he had been born poor in his kingdom.
15 I saw all the living who move about under the sun siding with the youth, the second one, who would rise in his place.
16 There was no end of all the people, all whom he led; yet those who come later will not be glad in him. This too is vanity and a chasing of the wind.