Ecclesiastes

¹ Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed— and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors— and they have no comforter.

² who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive.

³ is he who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.

⁴ And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

⁵ and ruins himself.

⁶ than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.

⁷ Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:

⁸ he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless— a miserable business!

⁹ because they have a good return for their work:

¹⁰ his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

¹¹ But how can one keep warm alone?

¹² two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

¹³ Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take warning.

¹⁴ The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom.

¹⁵ I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor.

¹⁶ There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.