| New American Standard Bible 1995 | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Then I looked again at all the acts of oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had no one to comfort them; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort them. | 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. |
| 2So I congratulated the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still living. | 2So I admired the dead, who have already died, more than the living, who are still alive. |
| 3But better off than both of them is the one who has never existed, who has never seen the evil activity that is done under the sun. | 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. |
| 4I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after wind. | 4I saw that all labor and all skillful work is due to a man's jealousy of his friend. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. |
| 5The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh. | 5The fool folds his arms and consumes his own flesh. |
| 6One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind. | 6Better one handful with rest than two handfuls with effort and a pursuit of the wind. |
| 7Then I looked again at vanity under the sun. | 7Again, I saw futility under the sun: |
| 8There was a certain man without a dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, "And for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure?" This too is vanity and it is a grievous task. | 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. "So who am I struggling for," he asks, "and depriving myself from good?" This too is futile and a miserable task. |
| 9Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. | 9Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. |
| 10For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. | 10For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. |
| 11Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? | 11Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? |
| 12And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. | 12And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. |
| 13A poor yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction. | 13Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer pays attention to warnings. |
| 14For he has come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. | 14For he came from prison to be king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. |
| 15I have seen all the living under the sun throng to the side of the second lad who replaces him. | 15I saw all the living, who move about under the sun, follow a second youth who succeeds him. |
| 16There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them, and even the ones who will come later will not be happy with him, for this too is vanity and striving after wind. | 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. |
| New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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