| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Again 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. | 1So I again considered all the oppression that continually occurs on earth. This is what I saw: The oppressed were in tears, but no one was comforting them; no one delivers them from the power of their oppressors. |
| 2And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. | 2So I considered those who are dead and gone more fortunate than those who are still alive. |
| 3But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun. | 3But better than both is the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth. |
| 4Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. | 4Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless--like chasing the wind. |
| 5The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. | 5The fool folds his hands and does no work, so he has nothing to eat but his own flesh. |
| 6Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind. | 6Better is one handful with some rest than two hands full of toil and chasing the wind. |
| 7Again, I saw vanity under the sun: | 7So I again considered another futile thing on earth: |
| 8one 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. | 8A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments, "For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is futile and a burdensome task! |
| 9Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. | 9Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor. |
| 10For 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! | 10For if they fall, one will help his companion up, but pity the person who falls down and has no one to help him up. |
| 11Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? | 11Furthermore, if two lie down together, they can keep each other warm, but how can one person keep warm by himself? |
| 12And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. | 12Although an assailant may overpower one person, two can withstand him. Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken. |
| 13Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. | 13A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive advice. |
| 14For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. | 14For he came out of prison to become king, even though he had been born poor in what would become his kingdom. |
| 15I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king’s place. | 15I considered all the living who walk on earth, as well as the successor who would arise in his place. |
| 16There 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. | 16There is no end to all the people nor to the past generations, yet future generations will not rejoice in him. This also is profitless and like chasing the wind. |
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