1 Then again, I, considered all the oppressive deeds which were done under the sun, - and lo! the tears of the oppressed, and they have no comforter, and, on the side of their oppressing, is power, and they have no comforter.
1 Then I looked again at all the acts of (A)oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had (B)no one to comfort them; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort them.
1 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
1 Again, I observed all the acts of oppression being done under the sun.(A) 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.
1 Next I turned to consider all kinds of oppression that exists on earth. Look at the tears of the oppressed there is no one to comfort them. Power is on the side of their oppressors; so they have no comforters.
2 So, I, pronounced happy the dead, who were, already, dead, - more than the living, who were living, still;
2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
2 So I commended the dead who had already died as being happier than the living who are still alive.
3 and, as better than both, him who had not yet come into being, - who had not seen the vexatious work, which was done under the sun.
3 But (D)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.
3 Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
3 But better than either of them is the one who has not yet existed,(C) who has not seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.
3 Better than both of them is someone who has not yet been born, because he hasn't experienced evil on earth.
4 Then saw, I, all the toil and all the skill of the work, that, for this, a man was envied of his neighbour, - even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.
4 I have seen that every labor and every (E)skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is (a)(F)vanity and striving after wind.
4 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
4 I saw that all labor and all skillful work is due to a man’s jealousy of his friend.(D) This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.(E)
4 Then I examined all sorts of work, including all kinds of excellent achievements that create envy in others. This also is pointless and chasing after the wind.
6 Better a handful - with quietness, - than both hands, full - with toil, and feeding on wind.
6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
6 It's better to have one handful of tranquility than to have two handfuls of trouble and to chase after the wind.
8 Here is one, without a second, even son or brother, he hath none, yet is there no end to all his toil, even his eye, is not satisfied with riches, - neither saith he For whom, am I toiling, and letting my soul want good? Even this, was vanity, yea a vexatious employment, it was!
8 There was a certain man without a (b)dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, (J)his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, “And (K)for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure?” This too is vanity and it is a (L)grievous task.
8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
8 There is a person without a companion,(a) without even a son or brother, and though there is no end to all his struggles, his eyes are still not content with riches.(I) “So who am I struggling for,” he asks, “and depriving myself from good?” This too is futile and a miserable task.
8 Consider someone who is alone, having neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his work, and he is never satisfied with wealth. "So for whom do I work," he asks, "and deprive myself of pleasure?" This, too, is pointless and a terrible tragedy.
9 Better are two, than one, - in that they have a good reward for their toil.
9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.
9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
9 Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts.
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.
10 For, if the one should fall, the other would raise up his companion, - but alas! for him who is alone when he falleth, with no second to raise him up!
10 For if (c)either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not (d)another to lift him up.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
10 For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up.
10 If they stumble, the first will lift up his friend but woe to anyone who is alone when he falls and there is no one to help him get up.
12 And, though an enemy should prevail against one, two, might make a stand before him, - and, a threefold cord, cannot soon be broken.
12 And if (f)one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.
12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
12 And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.
12 If someone attacks one of them, the two of them together will resist. Furthermore, the tri-braided cord is not soon broken.
13 Better a boy poor and wise, - than a king, old and stupid, who knoweth not how to take warning any longer.
13 A (N)poor yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive (g)instruction.
13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
13 Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer pays attention to warnings.(K)
13 A poor but wise youth is better than an old but foolish king who will no longer accept correction.
14 For, out of prison, came he forth to reign, yea, even in his own kingdom, was he born poor.
14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.
14 The former can come out of prison to reign, while the latter, even if born to kingship, may become poor.
15 I saw all the living, who were going hither and thither under the sun, - that they were with the boy who was to be the second, who was to stand in the other's place: -
15 I have seen all the living under the sun throng to the side of the second lad who (h)replaces him.
15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
15 I observed everyone who lives and walks on earth, along with the youth who will take the king's place.
16 There was no end to all the people, to all before whom he came, yet, they who should come later, would not rejoice in him, - surely, even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.
16 There 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 (P)vanity and striving after wind.
16 There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
16 There 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.(M)
16 There was no end to all of his subjects or to all of the people who had come before them. But those who come along afterward will not be happy with him. This is also pointless and a chasing after wind.
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