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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.
Evil Under the Sun
Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them.
Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them.
So I concluded that the dead are better off than the living.
And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still 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.
But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are 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.
“Fools fold their idle hands,
leading them to ruin.”
leading them to ruin.”
The fool folds his hands and eats 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 of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.
The Advantages of Companionship
I observed yet another example of something meaningless under the sun.
Again, I 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.
one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.
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 toil.
If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.
For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has 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, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?
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 though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him — 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.
Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice.
Such a youth could rise from poverty and succeed. He might even become king, though he has been in prison.
For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor.
There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.