| Berean Study Bible | NET Bible |
| 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. | 1So I again considered all the oppression that continually occurs on earth. This is what I saw: The oppressed were in tears, but no one was comforting them; no one delivers them from the power of their oppressors. |
| 2So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive. | 2So I considered those who are dead and gone more fortunate than those who are still alive. |
| 3But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun. | 3But better than both is the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth. |
| 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. | 4Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless--like chasing the wind. |
| 5The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh. | 5The fool folds his hands and does no work, so he has nothing to eat but his own flesh. |
| 6Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind. | 6Better is one handful with some rest than two hands full of toil and chasing the wind. |
| 7Again, I saw futility under the sun. | 7So I again considered another futile thing on earth: |
| 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. | 8A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments, "For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is futile and a burdensome task! |
| 9Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. | 9Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor. |
| 10For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up! | 10For if they fall, one will help his companion up, but pity the person who falls down and has no one to help him up. |
| 11Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? | 11Furthermore, if two lie down together, they can keep each other warm, but how can one person keep warm by himself? |
| 12And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken. | 12Although an assailant may overpower one person, two can withstand him. Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken. |
| 13Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning. | 13A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive advice. |
| 14For the youth has come from the prison to the kingship, though he was born poor in his own kingdom. | 14For he came out of prison to become king, even though he had been born poor in what would become his kingdom. |
| 15I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed this second one, the youth who succeeded the king. | 15I considered all the living who walk on earth, as well as the successor who would arise in his place. |
| 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. | 16There is no end to all the people nor to the past generations, yet future generations will not rejoice in him. This also is profitless and like chasing the wind. |
|
    |