1And I turned and I have seen all the oppressions that are committed under the sun, behold, the tears of the oppressed, and there is no comforter for them from the hand of their oppressors of power, and they have no helper 2And I praised the dead who have died long ago, more than the living, those who are alive now 3But better than both of these is the one who is not yet, because he does not see the evil work that is done under the sun

4I have seen all the labors and all successes of the owners of a work, because the zeal of a man is more than his neighbor’s, and this also is futility and agitation of spirit 5The fool clasps his hands and eats his flesh 6Better a handful in quiet than handfuls with toil and agitation of spirit

7And I turned and I saw futility under the sun 8There is one and there are not two, and he has neither a son nor a brother, and there is no end to all his labor, and also wealth does not satisfy his eyes; and for whom do I labor and deprive my soul of good? And this also is futility and evil business

9Two are better than one, for they have a good reward in their labor 10For if one falls, his companion lifts him up; but grieve for him who is alone, for if he falls, there is no one to lift him up 11And if two will lie down they will get warm, and how will one be warm alone? 12And if one will prevail, two of them will stand against him, and a threefold cord is not quickly broken

13Better a boy who is poor and wise than an old King who is foolish and still does not know how to take warning 14Because from prison he goes forth to reign, for also in his kingdom he was born poor 15I have seen All Life walking under the sun, with The Second Young Man that will arise in his place 16And there is no end to all the people, all who have been before him, neither will the latter ones rejoice in him, because even this is futility and agitation of spirit