| New King James Version | King James Bible |
| 1Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun: And look! The tears of the oppressed, But they have no comforter— On the side of their oppressors there is power, But they have no comforter. | 1So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. |
| 2Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead, More than the living who are still alive. | 2Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. |
| 3Yet, better than both is he who has never existed, Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. | 3Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. |
| 4Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. | 4Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit. |
| 5The fool folds his hands And consumes his own flesh. | 5The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. |
| 6Better a handful with quietness Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind. | 6Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit. |
| 7Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun: | 7Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. |
| 8There is one alone, without companion: He has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labors, Nor is his eye satisfied with riches. But he never asks, “For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?” This also is vanity and a grave misfortune. | 8There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. |
| 9Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. | 9Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. |
| 10For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. | 10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. |
| 11Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? | 11Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? |
| 12Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. | 12And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. |
| 13Better a poor and wise youth Than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more. | 13Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. |
| 14For he comes out of prison to be king, Although he was born poor in his kingdom. | 14For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. |
| 15I saw all the living who walk under the sun; They were with the second youth who stands in his place. | 15I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. |
| 16There was no end of all the people over whom he was made king; Yet those who come afterward will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and grasping for the wind. | 16There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. |
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