Christian Standard Bible | New International Version |
1Again, I observed all the acts of oppression being done under the sun. Look at the tears of those who are oppressed; they have no one to comfort them. Power is with those who oppress them; they have no one to comfort them. | 1Again 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. |
2So I commended the dead, who have already died, more than the living, who are still alive. | 2And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive. |
3But better than either of them is the one who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil activity that is done under the sun. | 3But better than both is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun. |
4I saw that all labor and all skillful work is due to one person's jealousy of another. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. | 4And 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. |
5The fool folds his arms and consumes his own flesh. | 5Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves. |
6Better one handful with rest than two handfuls with effort and a pursuit of the wind. | 6Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind. |
7Again, I saw futility under the sun: | 7Again I saw something meaningless under the sun: |
8There is a person without a companion, without even a son or brother, and though there is no end to all his struggles, his eyes are still not content with riches. "Who am I struggling for," he asks, "and depriving myself of good things?" This too is futile and a miserable task. | 8There 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! |
9Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. | 9Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: |
10For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. | 10If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. |
11Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? | 11Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? |
12And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. | 12Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. |
13Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer pays attention to warnings. | 13Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. |
14For he came from prison to be king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. | 14The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. |
15I saw all the living, who move about under the sun, follow a second youth who succeeds him. | 15I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king's successor. |
16There is no limit to all the people who were before them, yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. | 16There 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. |
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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