| New American Standard Bible 1995 | English Standard Version |
| 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. | 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 congratulated the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still living. | 2And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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 hands and consumes his own flesh. | 5The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. |
| 6One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind. | 6Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind. |
| 7Then I looked again at vanity under the sun. | 7Again, I saw vanity under the sun: |
| 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. | 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 return for their labor. | 9Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. |
| 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. | 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! |
| 11Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? | 11Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? |
| 12And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. | 12And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. |
| 13A poor yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction. | 13Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. |
| 14For he has come out of prison to become 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 have seen all the living under the sun throng to the side of the second lad who replaces 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 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. | 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. |
| 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 | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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