1. I looked again, and I saw all the oppression that occurs under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed— no one comforts them! Those who oppress them are powerful— no one can comfort them!
2. So I deemed the dead who have already died more fortunate than the living who are still alive.
3. But better off than both of them is the one who has not yet been born and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
4. I also realized that all of the toil and all of the skillful work that is done—it is envy between one man and another. This also is vanity and chasing wind!
5. The fool refuses to work with his hands, so he has nothing to eat except his own skin!
6. Better is one handful with peace than two fists full with toil and chasing wind.
7. I turned again and saw another vanity under the sun.
8. Sometimes a man is all alone with no companion; he also has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eye is not satisfied with wealth. He laments, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity—it is an unhappy business!
9. Two are better than the one, for they enjoy a better reward for their toil.