The Tears of the Oppressed

1Then I looked again at all the acts of oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold, I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had no one to comfort them; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort them. 2So I lauded the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still living. 3But better off than both of them is the one who never has been, who has never seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

4I have seen that every labor and every success of the work is the result of jealousy between a man and his neighbor. This too is [†]vanity and striving after wind. 5The fool folds his hands in embrace and consumes his own flesh. 6One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.

7Then I looked again at vanity under the sun. 8There was a certain man without a second man, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches—“And for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of good?” This too is vanity, and it is a grievous endeavor.

9Two are better than one because they have good wages for their labor. 10For if [†]either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not a second one to lift him up. 11Furthermore, if two lie down together they [†]keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? 12And if [†]one can overpower him who is alone, two can stand against him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

13A poor yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive [†]warning. 14For he has come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. 15I have seen all the living who walk about under the sun go along with the second lad who stands in place of him. 16There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them, and even the ones who will come later will not be glad with him, for this too is vanity and striving after wind.