The Evil of Oppression

1So I turned me, and considered all the violent wronge that is done vnder the Sonne: and beholde, the teares of soch as were oppressed, and there was no man to comforte them, or that wolde delyuer and defende them from the violence of their oppressours. 2Wherfore I iudged those that are deed, to be more happie then soch as be alyue: 3yee him that is yet vnborne to be better at ease the they both, because he seith not the miserable workes that are done vnder the Sonne.

4Agayne, I sawe that all trauayle and diligence of laboure was hated of euery man. This is also a vaine thinge, and a vexacion of mynde. 5The foole foldeth his handes together, & eateth vp his owne flesh. 6One handfull (saieth he) is better wt rest, the both ye handes full with labor and trauayle.

7Morouer, I turned me, and beholde yet another vanite vnder the Sonne. 8There is one man, no mo but himself alone, hauynge nether childe ner brother: yet is there no ende of his carefull trauayle, his eyes can not be satisfied with riches, (yet doth he not remembre himself, & saye:) For whom do I take soch trauayle? For whose pleasure do I thus consume awaye my lyfe? This is also a vayne and miserable thinge.

9Therfore two are better then one, for they maye well enioye the profit of their laboure. 10Yf one of them fall, his companyon helpeth him vp againe: But wo is him that is alone, for yf he fall, he hath not another to helpe him vp. 11Agayne, when two slepe together, they are warme: but how can a body be warme alone? 12One maye be ouercome, but two maye make resistauce: A thre folde cable is not lightly broken.

The Futility of Power

13A poore childe beynge wyse, is better then an olde kinge, that doteth, and can not bewarre in tyme to come. 14Some one commeth out of preson, & is made a kynge: & another which is borne in the kyngdome, commeth vnto pouerte. 15And I perceaued, yt all men lyuynge vnder the Sonne, go wt the seconde childe, that commeth vp in the steade of the other. 16As for the people that haue bene before him, and that come after him, they are innumerable: yet is not their ioye the greater thorow him. This is also a vayne thinge and a vexacion of mynde.