1. So I returned and considered all the violence that is done under the sun and behold the tears of such as are oppressed, and they have no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but the oppressed had no comforter.
2. Therefore I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive.
3. And I thought that better is he than both of them who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil works that are done under the sun.
4. Again, 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.
5. The fool folds his hands together and eats his own flesh.
6. Better is a handful with rest than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
7. Then I returned, and I saw another vanity under the sun.
8. It is the man who is alone, without a successor, who has neither son 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 and sore travail.
9. Two are better than one because they have a better reward for their labour.
10. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falls, for he has not another to help him up.