| King James Bible | English Standard Version |
| 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 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. |
| 2Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. | 2And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate 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 both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are 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. | 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 foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. | 5The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. |
| 6Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit. | 6Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind. |
| 7Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. | 7Again, I saw vanity 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. | 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 reward for their labour. | 9Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. |
| 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 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! |
| 11Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: 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 prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. | 12And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. |
| 13Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. | 13Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. |
| 14For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. | 14For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. |
| 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, along with that youth who was to stand in the king’s place. |
| 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 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. |
| King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. | 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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