And I turned, and I saw all the oppressions which are done under the sun, and behold, the tears of the oppressed, and there is no comforter for them, and from the hand of their oppressors, power, and there is no comforter for them.

And I praised the dead who already died, more than the living who are still alive.

And better than both of them is he who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil deed which is done under the sun.

And I saw all toil and all skill in work, because it is the envy of a man from his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.

Better is a handful with rest than two handfuls with toil and a striving after wind.

And I turned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

There is one, and he has no second, also a son and a brother he has not, and there is no end to all his toil, also his eyes will not be satisfied with riches, and for whom do I toil and deprive my soul of good? This also is vanity and a bad matter.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.

For if they fall, the one will lift up his companion, but woe to the one who falls, and there is no second to lift him up.

Also if two lie down, they have warmth, but for one, how can he be warm?

And if one attacks, two will stand against him, and a threefold cord will not quickly be broken.

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who knows no longer how to be warned.

For from the house of confinement he came out to reign, because also in his kingdom he was born poor.

I saw all the living who walk under the sun with the second youth who will stand in his place.

There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them. Also the last ones will not rejoice in him, because this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Guard your feet when you go to the house of Elohim, and be ready to hear more than the giving of sacrifices by fools, because they do not know to do evil.