Then I returned and saw all the oppressions{HR}That are done under the sun:{HR}And behold, the tears of such as were oppressed,{HR}And they had no comforter;{HR}And on the side of their oppressors there was power,{HR}But they had no comforter.
Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead{HR}More than the living which are yet alive;
Yea, better than them both did I esteem him which hath not yet been,{HR}Who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
Then I saw all labour and every skilful work,{HR}That for this a man is envied of his neighbour.{HR}This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
The fool foldeth his hands together,{HR}And eateth his own flesh.
Better is an handful with quietness,{HR}Than two handfuls with labour and striving after wind.
Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
There is one, and he hath not a second;{HR}Yea, he hath neither son nor brother;{HR}Yet is there no end of all his labour,{HR}Neither is his eye satisfied with riches.{HR}For whom then, do I labour, and deprive my soul of good?{HR}This also is vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
Two are better than one;{HR}Because they have a good reward for their labour.
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow:{HR}But woe to him that is alone when he falleth,{HR}And hath not another to lift him up!
Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth:{HR}But how can one be warm alone?
And if a man prevail against him that is alone,{HR}Two shall withstand him;{HR}And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king,{HR}Who knoweth not how to receive admonition anymore.
For out of prison he came forth to be the king;{HR}Yea, even in his kingdom he was born poor.
I saw all the living which walk under the sun,{HR}That they were with the child,{HR}The second, that stood up in his stead.
[There was] no end of all the people,{HR}Of all them over whom he was:{HR}Yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him.{HR}Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.