| King James Bible | NET 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. | 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. |
| 2Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. | 2So I considered those who are dead and gone more fortunate than those 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 the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth. |
| 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 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 foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. | 5The fool folds his hands and does no work, so he has nothing to eat but his own flesh. |
| 6Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit. | 6Better is one handful with some rest than two hands full of toil and chasing the wind. |
| 7Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. | 7So I again considered another futile thing on earth: |
| 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. | 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 reward for their labour. | 9Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor. |
| 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 help his companion up, but pity the person who falls down and has no one to help him up. |
| 11Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? | 11Furthermore, if two lie down together, they can keep each other warm, but how can one person keep warm by himself? |
| 12And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord 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 and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. | 13A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive advice. |
| 14For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. | 14For he came out of prison to become king, even though he had been born poor in what would become his kingdom. |
| 15I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. | 15I considered all the living who walk on earth, as well as the successor who would arise in his 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 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. |
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