| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 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. | 1Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed-- and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors-- and they have no comforter. |
| 2So I considered those who are dead and gone more fortunate than those who are still alive. | 2And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive. |
| 3But better than both is the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth. | 3But better than both is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun. |
| 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. | 4And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person's envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. |
| 5The fool folds his hands and does no work, so he has nothing to eat but his own flesh. | 5Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves. |
| 6Better is one handful with some rest than two hands full of toil and chasing the wind. | 6Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind. |
| 7So I again considered another futile thing on earth: | 7Again I saw something meaningless under the sun: |
| 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! | 8There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. "For whom am I toiling," he asked, "and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?" This too is meaningless-- a miserable business! |
| 9Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor. | 9Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: |
| 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. | 10If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. |
| 11Furthermore, if two lie down together, they can keep each other warm, but how can one person keep warm by himself? | 11Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? |
| 12Although an assailant may overpower one person, two can withstand him. Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken. | 12Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. |
| 13A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive advice. | 13Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. |
| 14For he came out of prison to become king, even though he had been born poor in what would become his kingdom. | 14The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. |
| 15I considered all the living who walk on earth, as well as the successor who would arise in his place. | 15I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king's successor. |
| 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. | 16There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. |
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