| International Standard Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1Next I turned to consider all kinds of oppression that exists on earth. Look at the tears of the oppressed— there is no one to comfort them. Power is on the side of their oppressors; so they have no comforters. | 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 commended the dead who had already died as being happier than the living who are still alive. | 2So I congratulated the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still living. |
| 3Better than both of them is someone who has not yet been born, because he hasn't experienced evil on earth. | 3But better off than both of them is the one who has never existed, who has never seen the evil activity that is done under the sun. |
| 4Then I examined all sorts of work, including all kinds of excellent achievements that create envy in others. This also is pointless and chasing after the wind. | 4I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after wind. |
| 5The fool crosses his arms and starves himself. | 5The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh. |
| 6It's better to have one handful of tranquility than to have two handfuls of trouble and to chase after the wind. | 6One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind. |
| 7Then I turned to re-examine something else that is pointless on earth: | 7Then I looked again at vanity under the sun. |
| 8Consider someone who is alone, having neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his work, and he is never satisfied with wealth. "So for whom do I work," he asks, "and deprive myself of pleasure?" This, too, is pointless and a terrible tragedy. | 8There was a certain man without a dependent, 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 he never asked, "And for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure?" This too is vanity and it is a grievous task. |
| 9Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. | 9Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. |
| 10If they stumble, the first will lift up his friend—but woe to anyone who is alone when he falls and there is no one to help him get up. | 10For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. |
| 11Again, if two lie close together, they will keep warm, but how can only one stay warm? | 11Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? |
| 12If someone attacks one of them, the two of them together will resist. Furthermore, the tri-braided cord is not soon broken. | 12And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. |
| 13A poor but wise youth is better than an old but foolish king who will no longer accept correction. | 13A poor yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction. |
| 14The former can come out of prison to reign, while the latter, even if born to kingship, may become poor. | 14For he has come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. |
| 15I observed everyone who lives and walks on earth, along with the youth who will take the king's place. | 15I have seen all the living under the sun throng to the side of the second lad who replaces him. |
| 16There was no end to all of his subjects or to all of the people who had come before them. But those who come along afterward will not be happy with him. This is also pointless and a chasing after wind. | 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 happy with him, for this too is vanity and striving after wind. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
|
    |