1. Next, I turned to look at all the acts of oppression that make people suffer under the sun. Look at the tears of those who suffer! No one can comfort them. Their oppressors have ⌊all⌋ the power. No one can comfort those who suffer.
2. I congratulate the dead, who have already died, rather than the living, who still have to carry on.
3. But the person who hasn’t been born yet is better off than both of them. He hasn’t seen the evil that is done under the sun.
4. Then I saw that all hard work and skillful effort come from rivalry. Even this is pointless. ⌊It’s like⌋ trying to catch the wind.
5. A fool folds his hands and wastes away.
6. One handful of peace and quiet is better than two handfuls of hard work and of trying to catch the wind.
7. Next, I turned to look at something pointless under the sun:
8. There are people who are all alone. They have no children or other family members. So there is no end to all the hard work they have to do. Their eyes are never satisfied with riches. But ⌊they never ask themselves⌋ why they are working so hard and depriving themselves of good things. Even this is pointless and a terrible tragedy.
9. Two people are better than one because ⌊together⌋ they have a good reward for their hard work.