7. Then I looked again at futility under the sun:
8. There is one, without a second, who has neither son nor brother. And there is no end to all his labours. His eye also is not satisfied with riches. “And for whom am I toiling and depriving myself of good?” That too is futility, and an evil task.
9. Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labour.
10. For if they fall, one lifts his companion up. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.
11. Also, if two lie down together, they keep warm; but how does one keep warm by himself?
12. Although one might be overpowered, two withstand him. And a threefold cord is not readily broken.
13. A poor and wise youth is better than an old and foolish sovereign who no longer knows how to take warning.
14. For he comes out of prison to be sovereign, although in his reign he was born poor.
15. I have seen all the living who walk under the sun; they were with the second youth who stands in his place.
16. There was no end of all the people; all of whom he headed. But the ones who come afterward do not rejoice in him. For that too is futile and feeding on wind.