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Again, I observed all the oppression that takes place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. The oppressors have great power, and their victims are helpless.
The Evils of Oppression
And I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors was power, and they had no comforter.
And I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors was power, and they had no comforter.
So I concluded that the dead are better off than the living.
Then I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive;
But most fortunate of all are those who are not yet born. For they have not seen all the evil that is done under the sun.
and more fortunate than both is he who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless — like chasing the wind.
And I saw all labour, and all success of work, that it is man's jealousy of his neighbour. This also is vanity and pursuit of the wind.
“Fools fold their idle hands,
leading them to ruin.”
leading them to ruin.”
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
And yet,
“Better to have one handful with quietness
than two handfuls with hard work
and chasing the wind.”
“Better to have one handful with quietness
than two handfuls with hard work
and chasing the wind.”
Better is a handful with quietness, than both hands full with labour and pursuit of the wind.
The Advantages of Companionship
I observed yet another example of something meaningless under the sun.
And I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself, “Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” It is all so meaningless and depressing.
There is one [alone] and without a second; also he hath neither son nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches, and [he saith not], For whom then am I labouring, and depriving my soul of good? This also is vanity and a grievous occupation.
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and who hath not another to lift him up!
Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone?
Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one alone be warm?
A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
And if a [man] overpower the one, the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
The Futility of Political Power
It is better to be a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who refuses all advice.
The Futility of Power
Better is a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth no more how to be admonished.
Better is a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth no more how to be admonished.
Such a youth could rise from poverty and succeed. He might even become king, though he has been in prison.
For out of the prison-house he came forth to reign, although he was born poor in his kingdom.
I saw all the living that walk under the sun, with the child, the second, that should stand up in his stead.
[There is] no end of all the people, of all that stood before them; those however that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after the wind.