So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears ofsuch as wereoppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressorsthere waspower; but they had no comforter.
Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
Yea, betteris hethan both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. Thisisalso vanity and vexation of spirit.
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
Betterisan handfulwithquietness, than both the hands fullwithtravail and vexation of spirit.
Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
There is onealone, andthere isnot a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yetis thereno end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neithersaith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? Thisisalso vanity, yea, itisa sore travail.
Twoarebetter than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to himthat isalone when he falleth; forhe hathnot another to help him up.
Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warmalone?
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Betterisa poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas alsohe that isborn in his kingdom becometh poor.
I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
There isno end of all the people,evenof all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this alsoisvanity and vexation of spirit.