| NET Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 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 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. |
| 2So I considered those who are dead and gone more fortunate than those who are still alive. | 2So I admired the dead, who have already died, more 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 either of them is the one who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil activity 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. | 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 folds his hands and does no work, so he has nothing to eat but his own flesh. | 5The fool folds his arms and consumes his own flesh. |
| 6Better is one handful with some rest than two hands full of toil and chasing the wind. | 6Better one handful with rest than two handfuls with effort and a pursuit of the wind. |
| 7So I again considered another futile thing on earth: | 7Again, I saw futility 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 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 people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor. | 9Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. |
| 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. | 10For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him 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 can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? |
| 12Although an assailant may overpower one person, two can withstand him. Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken. | 12And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. |
| 13A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive advice. | 13Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer pays attention to warnings. |
| 14For he came out of prison to become king, even though he had been born poor in what would become his kingdom. | 14For he came from prison to be king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. |
| 15I considered all the living who walk on earth, as well as the successor who would arise in his place. | 15I saw all the living, who move about under the sun, follow a second youth who succeeds him. |
| 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 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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