| Holman Christian Standard Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Again, I observed all the acts of oppression being done under the sun. 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. | 1Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter. |
| 2So I admired the dead, who have already died, more than the living, who are still alive. | 2So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive. |
| 3But better than either of them is the one who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil activity that is done under the sun. | 3But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun. |
| 4I saw that all labor and all skillful work is due to a man's jealousy of his friend. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. | 4I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. |
| 5The fool folds his arms and consumes his own flesh. | 5The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh. |
| 6Better one handful with rest than two handfuls with effort and a pursuit of the wind. | 6Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind. |
| 7Again, I saw futility under the sun: | 7Again, I saw futility under the sun. |
| 8There is a person without a companion, without even a son or brother, and though there is no end to all his struggles, his eyes are still not content with riches. "So who am I struggling for," he asks, "and depriving myself from good?" This too is futile and a miserable task. | 8There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task. |
| 9Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. | 9Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. |
| 10For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. | 10For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up! |
| 11Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? | 11Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? |
| 12And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. | 12And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken. |
| 13Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer pays attention to warnings. | 13Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning. |
| 14For he came from prison to be king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. | 14For the youth has come from the prison to the kingship, though he was born poor in his own kingdom. |
| 15I saw all the living, who move about under the sun, follow a second youth who succeeds him. | 15I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed this second one, the youth who succeeded the king. |
| 16There 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. | 16There is no limit to all the people who were before them. Yet the successor will not be celebrated by those who come even later. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. |
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