The Preacher sees the tears of the oppressed and the envy behind human toil. Two are better than one, since they can help each other up, and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
1 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 .
2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive .
3 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 .
4 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 .
5 The fool foldeth his hands together , and eateth his own flesh .
6 Better is an handful with quietness , than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit .
7 Then I returned , and I saw vanity under the sun .
8 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 .
9 Two are better than one ; because they have a good reward for their labour .
10 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 .
11 Again , if two lie together , then they have heat : but how can one be warm alone?
12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken .
13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king , who will no more be admonished .
14 For out of prison he cometh to reign ; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor .
15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun , with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
16 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 .