| Holman Christian Standard Bible | English Standard Version |
| 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 saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. |
| 2So I admired the dead, who have already died, more than the living, who are still alive. | 2And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than 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 been and has not seen the evil deeds that are 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. | 4Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. |
| 5The fool folds his arms and consumes his own flesh. | 5The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. |
| 6Better one handful with rest than two handfuls with effort and a pursuit of the wind. | 6Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind. |
| 7Again, I saw futility under the sun: | 7Again, I saw vanity 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. | 8one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business. |
| 9Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. | 9Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. |
| 10For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. | 10For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! |
| 11Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? | 11Again, if two lie together, they 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 a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord 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 was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. |
| 14For he came from prison to be king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. | 14For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. |
| 15I saw all the living, who move about under the sun, follow a second youth who succeeds him. | 15I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king’s place. |
| 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 was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind. |
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