4. Again, I considered all toil, and every skillful work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This is also vanity and grasping after the wind.
5. The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.
6. Better is a handful with quietness, than both hands full with toil and grasping for the wind.
7. Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
8. There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he has neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labor; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither says he, For whom do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a heavy travail.
9. Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor.
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.
11. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
12. And if one prevails against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13. Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no longer be admonished.
14. For out of prison he comes to reign; yet he that is born in his kingdom might become poor.
15. I considered all the living who walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his place.