| New King James Version | English Standard Version |
| 1Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun: And look! The tears of the oppressed, But they have no comforter— On the side of their oppressors there is power, But they have no comforter. | 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. |
| 2Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead, More than the living who are still alive. | 2And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. |
| 3Yet, better than both is he who has never existed, Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. | 3But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun. |
| 4Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. | 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. |
| 5The fool folds his hands And consumes his own flesh. | 5The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. |
| 6Better a handful with quietness Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind. | 6Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind. |
| 7Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun: | 7Again, I saw vanity under the sun: |
| 8There is one alone, without companion: He has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labors, Nor is his eye satisfied with riches. But he never asks, “For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?” This also is vanity and a grave misfortune. | 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. |
| 9Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. | 9Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. |
| 10For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. | 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! |
| 11Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? | 11Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? |
| 12Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. | 12And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. |
| 13Better a poor and wise youth Than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more. | 13Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. |
| 14For he comes out of prison to be king, Although he was born poor in his kingdom. | 14For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. |
| 15I saw all the living who walk under the sun; They were with the second youth who stands in his place. | 15I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king’s place. |
| 16There was no end of all the people over whom he was made king; Yet those who come afterward will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and grasping for the wind. | 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. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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