1And I turned, I, and saw all the oppressions that 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 is power, and there is no comforter for them.
2And I praised, I, the dead who already died, more than the living (chai) who are still alive (chai) until now.
3And better than both of them is the one who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4And I saw, I, all labor and all skill of work, that it is a man's (ish) envy of his neighbor. Also this is vanity and a striving after spirit (ruach).
5The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh (basar).
6Better is a handful of quietness than two handfuls of labor and striving after spirit (ruach).
7And I turned, I, and saw vanity under the sun.
8There is one and there is not a second; also son or brother he has not; yet there is no end to all his labor; also his eye is not satisfied with riches; "and for whom am I laboring and depriving my soul (nephesh) of good?" Also this is vanity, and an evil task it is.
9Two are better than one, for they have a good reward in their labor.
10For if they fall, the one will raise his companion; but woe to the one who falls and there is no second to raise him.
11Also if two lie down, then they have warmth; but for one, how can he be warm?
12And if one overpowers him, the two will stand against him; and the threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king who no longer knows to be admonished.
14For out of the house of prisoners he came forth to reign, although in his kingdom he was born poor.
15I saw all the living (chai) who walk under the sun, with the second child who will stand in his place.
16There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them; also the latter ones will not rejoice in him. For also this is vanity and a striving after spirit (ruach).
17Guard your foot when you go to the house of God, and draw near to hear, more than to give the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know that they do evil.