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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
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.
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.
So I concluded that the dead are better off than the living.
Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which 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.
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.
Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless — like chasing the wind.
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.
“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 an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
The Advantages of Companionship
I observed yet another example of something meaningless under the sun.
Then I returned, and 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.
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.
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; for he hath not another to help 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 heat: but how can one be 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 if one prevail against him, 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 and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more 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 prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.
I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
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.