The Existence Of Oppression In The World Makes Human Existence Miserable
1 And I have turned, and I see all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and lo, the tear of the oppressed, and they have no comforter; and at the hand of their oppressors is power, and they have no comforter.
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 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 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.
3 And better than both of them is he who hath not yet been, in that he hath not seen the evil work that hath been 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 (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 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.
People Need Balance In Their Approach To Labor
4 And I have seen all the labour, and all the benefit of the work, because for it a man is the envy of his neighbour. Even this is vanity and vexation of spirit.
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 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 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 is a handful with quietness, than two handfuls with labour and vexation of spirit.'
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.
Wealth Without Someone With Which To Enjoy It Is Futile
8 There is one, and there is not a second; even son or brother he hath not, and there is no end to all his labour! His eye also is not satisfied with riches, and he saith not, 'For whom am I labouring and bereaving my soul of good?' This also is vanity, it is a sad travail.
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 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 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.
Friends And Family Can Help One Another In Life
9 The two are better than the one, in that they have a good reward by their labour.
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 return for their labor.
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 they fall, the one raiseth up his companion, but woe to the one who falleth and there is not a second to raise 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 (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 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 if the one strengthen himself, the two stand against him; and the threefold cord is not hastily broken.
12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly 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 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.
One Must Be Willing To Listen To Counsel
13 Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who hath not known to be warned any more.
13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
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 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 from a house of prisoners he hath come out to reign, for even in his own kingdom he hath been 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 have seen all the living, who are walking under the sun, with the second youth who doth stand in his place;
15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
15 I have seen all the living under the sun throng to the side of the second lad who (h)replaces him.
15 I observed everyone who lives and walks on earth, along with the youth who will take the king's place.
16 there is no end to all the people, to all who were before them; also, the latter rejoice not in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
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 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 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.