Welcome to our website where we explore the Bible! Pleasure to meet you here!
May your journey into the world of the Holy Scriptures be engaging and inspiring!
You can change reading language: uk ru
Parallel
New International Version
New King James Version
Oppression, Toil, Friendlessness
Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun:
I saw the tears of the oppressed —
and they have no comforter;
power was on the side of their oppressors —
and they have no comforter.
Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun:
I saw the tears of the oppressed —
and they have no comforter;
power was on the side of their oppressors —
and they have no comforter.
And I declared that the dead,
who had already died,
are happier than the living,
who are still alive.
who had already died,
are happier than the living,
who are still alive.
Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead,
More than the living who are still alive.
More than the living who are still alive.
But better than both
is the one who has never been born,
who has not seen the evil
that is done under the sun.
is the one who has never been born,
who has not seen the evil
that is done under the sun.
Yet, better than both is he who has never existed,
Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
The Vanity of Selfish Toil
Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
Fools fold their hands
and ruin themselves.
and ruin themselves.
The fool folds his hands
And consumes his own flesh.
And consumes his own flesh.
Better one handful with tranquillity
than two handfuls with toil
and chasing after the wind.
than two handfuls with toil
and chasing after the wind.
Better a handful with quietness
Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind.
Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind.
Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:
Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun:
There was a man all alone;
he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil,
yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.
“For whom am I toiling,” he asked,
“and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”
This too is meaningless —
a miserable business!
he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil,
yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.
“For whom am I toiling,” he asked,
“and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”
This too is meaningless —
a miserable business!
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
because they have a good return for their labor:
The Value of a Friend
Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
But how can one keep warm alone?
Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;
But how can one be warm alone?
But how can one be warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Advancement Is Meaningless
Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning.
Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning.
Popularity Passes Away
Better a poor and wise youth
Than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more.
Better a poor and wise youth
Than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more.
The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom.
I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor.
I saw all the living who walk under the sun;
They were with the second youth who stands in his place.
They were with the second youth who stands in his place.
There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.