| King James Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 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. | 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. |
| 2Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. | 2So I admired the dead, who have already died, more than the living, who are still alive. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 5The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. | 5The fool folds his arms and consumes his own flesh. |
| 6Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit. | 6Better one handful with rest than two handfuls with effort and a pursuit of the wind. |
| 7Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. | 7Again, I saw futility under the sun: |
| 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. | 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. |
| 9Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. | 9Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. |
| 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. | 10For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. |
| 11Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? | 11Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? |
| 12And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. | 12And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. |
| 13Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. | 13Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer pays attention to warnings. |
| 14For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. | 14For he came from prison to be king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. |
| 15I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. | 15I saw all the living, who move about under the sun, follow a second youth who succeeds him. |
| 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. | 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. |
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