|
|
|
|
1. Again I saw that many people are treated badly. I saw their tears, and I saw that there was no one to comfort them. I saw that cruel people had all the power, and I saw that there was no one to comfort the people they hurt.
|
1. So I H589 returned H7725 , and considered H7200 H853 all H3605 the oppressions H6217 that H834 are done H6213 under H8478 the sun H8121 : and behold H2009 the tears H1832 of such as were oppressed H6217 , and they had no H369 comforter H5162 ; and on the side H4480 H3027 of their oppressors H6231 there was power H3581 ; but they had no H369 comforter H5162 .
|
|
2. I decided that it is better for those who have died than for those who are still alive.
|
2. Wherefore I H589 praised H7623 H853 the dead H4191 which are already H7945 H3528 dead H4191 more than H4480 the living H2416 which H834 H1992 are yet H5728 alive H2416 .
|
|
3. And it is even better for those who die at birth, because they never saw the evil that is done in this world.
|
3. Yea, better H2896 is he than both H4480 H8147 they, H853 which H834 hath not H3808 yet H5728 been H1961 , who H834 hath not H3808 seen H7200 H853 the evil H7451 work H4639 that H834 is done H6213 under H8478 the sun H8121 .
|
|
4. Then I thought, "Why do people work so hard?" I saw people try to succeed and be better than other people. They do this because they are jealous. They don't want other people to have more than they have. This is senseless. It is like trying to catch the wind.
|
4. Again, I H589 considered H7200 H853 all H3605 travail H5999 , and every H3605 right H3788 work H4639 , that H3588 for this H1931 a man H376 is envied H7068 of his neighbor H4480 H7453 . This H2088 is also H1571 vanity H1892 and vexation H7469 of spirit H7307 .
|
|
5. Some people say, "It is foolish to fold your hands and do nothing. If you don't work, you will starve to death."
|
5. The fool H3684 foldeth his hands together H2263 H853 H3027 , and eateth H398 H853 his own flesh H1320 .
|
|
6. Maybe that is true. But I say it is better to be satisfied with the few things you have than to always be struggling to get more.
|
6. Better H2896 is a handful H4480 H4393 H3709 with quietness H5183 , than both the hands H2651 full H4480 H4393 with travail H5999 and vexation H7469 of spirit H7307 .
|
|
7. Again I saw something else that didn't make sense:
|
7. Then I H589 returned H7725 , and I saw H7200 vanity H1892 under H8478 the sun H8121 .
|
|
8. I saw a man who has no family, not a son or even a brother. But he continues to work very hard. He is never satisfied with what he has. And he works so hard that he never stops and asks himself, "Why am I working so hard? Why don't I let myself enjoy my life?" This is also a very bad and senseless thing.
|
8. There is H3426 one H259 alone , and there is not H369 a second H8145 ; yea H1571 , he hath neither H369 child H1121 nor brother H251 : yet is there no H369 end H7093 of all H3605 his labor H5999 ; neither H3808 is his eye H5869 satisfied H7646 with riches H6239 ; neither saith he , For whom H4310 do I H589 labor H6001 , and bereave H2637 H853 my soul H5315 of good H4480 H2896 ? This H2088 is also H1571 vanity H1892 , yea, it H1931 is a sore H7451 travail H6045 .
|
|
9. Two people are better than one. When two people work together, they get more work done.
|
9. Two H8147 are better H2896 than H4480 one H259 ; because H834 they have H3426 a good H2896 reward H7939 for their labor H5999 .
|
|
10. If one person falls, the other person can reach out to help. But those who are alone when they fall have no one to help them.
|
10. For H3588 if H518 they fall H5307 , the one H259 will lift up H6965 H853 his fellow H2270 : but woe H337 to him that is alone H259 when he falleth H7945 H5307 ; for he hath not H369 another H8145 to help him up H6965 .
|
|
11. If two people sleep together, they will be warm. But a person sleeping alone will not be warm.
|
11. Again H1571 , if H518 two H8147 lie together H7901 , then they have heat H2552 : but how H349 can one H259 be warm H3179 alone ?
|
|
12. An enemy might be able to defeat one person, but two people can stand back-toback to defend each other. And three people are even stronger. They are like a rope that has three parts wrapped together�it is very hard to break.
|
12. And if H518 one H259 prevail against H8630 him, two H8147 shall withstand H5975 H5048 him ; and a threefold H8027 cord H2339 is not H3808 quickly H4120 broken H5423 .
|
|
13. A young leader who is poor but wise is better than a king who is old but foolish. That old king does not listen to warnings.
|
13. Better H2896 is a poor H4542 and a wise H2450 child H3206 than an old H2205 and foolish H3684 king H4480 H4428 , who H834 will H3045 no H3808 more H5750 be admonished H2094 .
|
|
14. Maybe the young ruler was born a poor man in the kingdom. And maybe he came from prison to rule the country.
|
14. For H3588 out of prison H4480 H1004 H631 he cometh H3318 to reign H4427 ; whereas H3588 also H1571 he that is born H3205 in his kingdom H4438 becometh poor H7326 .
|
|
15. But I have watched people in this life, and I know this: People will follow that young man. He will become the new king.
|
15. I considered H7200 H853 all H3605 the living H2416 which walk H1980 under H8478 the sun H8121 , with H5973 the second H8145 child H3206 that H834 shall stand up H5975 in his stead H8478 .
|
|
16. Many people will follow this young man. But later, those same people will not like him. This is also senseless. It is like trying to catch the wind.
|
16. There is no H369 end H7093 of all H3605 the people H5971 , even of all H3605 that H834 have been H1961 before H6440 them : they also H1571 that come after H314 shall not H3808 rejoice H8055 in him. Surely H3588 this H2088 also H1571 is vanity H1892 and vexation H7475 of spirit H7307 .
|