Dual Panel1So I <0589> again <07725> considered <07200> all <03605> the oppression <06217> that <0834> continually occurs <06213> on earth <08121> <08478>. This is what I saw <02009>: The oppressed <06217> were in tears <01832>, but no <0369> one was comforting <05162> them; no <0369> one delivers <05162> them from the power <03581> of their oppressors <06231>.
2So I <0589> considered <07623> those who are dead <04191> and gone <04191> more <04480> fortunate <07623> than <04480> those <01992> who are still <05728> alive <02416>.
3But better <02896> than both <08147> is the one who <0834> has not <03808> been <01961> born and has not <03808> seen <07200> the evil <07451> things <04639> that <0834> are done <06213> on earth <08121> <08478>.
4Then I <0589> considered <07200> all <03605> the skillful <03788> work <04639> that is done: Surely <03588> it <01931> is nothing more than competition <07068> between one person <0376> and another <07453>. This <02088> also <01571> is profitless <01892>– like chasing <07469> the wind <07307>.
5The fool <03684> folds <02263> his hands <03027> and does no work, so he has nothing to eat <0398> but his own flesh <01320>.
6Better <02896> is one handful <03709> handful <04393> with some rest <05183> than two hands <02651> full <04393> of toil <05999> and chasing <07469> the wind <07307>.
7So I <0589> again <07725> considered <07200> another futile <01892> thing on <08478> earth <08121>:
8A man <0259> who is all alone <0259> with no companion <08145>, he has no <0369> children <01121> nor siblings <0251>; yet <0369> there is no <0369> end <07093> to all <03605> his toil <05999>, and he <05869> is never <03808> satisfied <07646> with riches <06239>. He laments, “For whom <04310> am I <0589> toiling <06001> and depriving <02637> myself <05315> of pleasure <02896>?” This <02088> also <01571> is futile <01892> and a burdensome <07451> task <06045>!
9Two <08147> people are better <02896> than <04480> one <0259>, because <0834> they <01992> can reap <03426> more <02896> benefit <07939> from their labor <05999>.
10For <03588> if <0518> they fall <05307>, one <0259> will help <06965> his companion <02270> up <06965>, but pity <0337> the person <0259> who falls down <05307> and has no <0369> one <08145> to help <06965> him up <06965>.
11Furthermore <01571>, if <0518> two <08147> lie down <07901> together, they can keep <02552> each other warm <02552>, but how <0349> can one <0259> person keep warm <03179> by himself?
12Although <0518> an assailant may overpower <08630> one <0259> person, two <08147> can withstand <05975> him. Moreover, a three-stranded <08027> cord <02339> is not <03808> quickly <04120> broken <05423>.
13A poor <04542> but wise <02450> youth <03206> is better <02896> than an old <02205> and foolish <03684> king <04428> who <0834> no <03808> longer <05750> knows <03045> how to receive advice <02094>.
14For <03588> he came out <03318> of prison <0612> <01004> to become king <04427>, even <01571> though <03588> he had been born <03205> poor <07326> in what would become his kingdom <04438>.
15I considered <07200> all <03605> the living <02416> who walk <01980> on <08478> earth <08121>, as well <05973> as the successor <08145> <03206> who <0834> would arise <05975> in his place <08478>.
16There is no <0369> end <07093> to all <03605> the people <05971> nor to the past <06440> <01961> generations <0834> <03605>, yet <01571> future generations <0314> will not <03808> rejoice <08055> in him. This <02088> also <01571> is profitless <01892> and like chasing <07475> the wind <07307>.