so i returned and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun and behold the tears of such as were oppressed and they had no comforter and on the side of their oppressors there was power but they had no comforter
wherefore i praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive
yea better is he than both they which hath not yet been who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun
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
the fool foldeth his hands together and eateth his own flesh
better is an handful with quietness than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit
then i returned and i saw vanity under the sun
there is one alone and there is not a second yea he hath neither child 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 yea it is a sore travail
two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labour
for if they fall the one will lift up his fellow but woe to him that is alone when he falleth for he hath not another to help him up
again if two lie together then they have heat but how can one be warm
and if one prevail against him two shall withstand him and a threefold cord is not quickly broken
better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king who will no more be admonished
for out of prison he cometh to reign whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor
i considered all the living which walk under the sun with the second child that shall stand up
there is no end of all the people even of all that have been before them they also that come after shall not rejoice in him surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit