| New Living Translation | NET Bible |
| 1Again, I observed all the oppression that takes place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. The oppressors have great power, and their victims are helpless. | 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. |
| 2So I concluded that the dead are better off than the living. | 2So I considered those who are dead and gone more fortunate than those who are still alive. |
| 3But most fortunate of all are those who are not yet born. For they have not seen all the evil that is 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 observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the 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. |
| 5“Fools fold their idle hands, leading them to ruin.” | 5The fool folds his hands and does no work, so he has nothing to eat but his own flesh. |
| 6And yet, “Better to have one handful with quietness than two handfuls with hard work and chasing the wind.” The Advantages of Companionship | 6Better is one handful with some rest than two hands full of toil and chasing the wind. |
| 7I observed yet another example of something meaningless under the sun. | 7So I again considered another futile thing on earth: |
| 8This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself, “Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” It is all so meaningless and depressing. | 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 people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. | 9Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor. |
| 10If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. | 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. |
| 11Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? | 11Furthermore, if two lie down together, they can keep each other warm, but how can one person keep warm by himself? |
| 12A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. The Futility of Political Power | 12Although an assailant may overpower one person, two can withstand him. Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken. |
| 13It is better to be a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who refuses all advice. | 13A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive advice. |
| 14Such a youth could rise from poverty and succeed. He might even become king, though he has been in prison. | 14For he came out of prison to become king, even though he had been born poor in what would become his kingdom. |
| 15But then everyone rushes to the side of yet another youth who replaces him. | 15I considered all the living who walk on earth, as well as the successor who would arise in his place. |
| 16Endless crowds stand around him, but then another generation grows up and rejects him, too. So it is all meaningless—like chasing the 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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