1 And I returned, I myself, and I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun; and behold, the tears of the oppressed {ashuqim: those exploited or violated}, and there is no comforter {menachem: one who brings true solace} for them—and from the hand of their oppressors is power, but there is no comforter for them.
2 So I praised {shibbachti: intentionally honored} the dead who had already died more than the living who are still alive {chayim: those possessing life}.
3 And better than both of them is the one who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil deed {maaseh: wicked act} that has been done under the sun {shemesh: earthly life}.
4 And I saw all labor {amal: exhausting effort} and skill because it is a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and striving after wind {ruach: futile endeavor}.
5 The fool {kesil: morally dull} folds his hands and eats his own flesh {basar: physical body}.
6 Better is a handful with quietness {na-chat: peaceful rest} than two handfuls full of toil and chasing after the wind {ru-ach: fleeting spirit}.
7 And I returned, and I saw vanity {hevel: fleeting emptiness} under the sun {hashemesh: earthly existence}.
8 There is one person, with no second—neither son nor brother does he have; yet there is no end to all his labor {amal: strenuous effort}, and his eye is not satisfied with riches. Yet he does not say, “For whom do I toil and deprive my soul {nefesh: life essence} of good?” This too is vanity, and it is an evil preoccupation.
9 Two are preferable to one, for their toil {amal: strenuous effort} yields a good return {sachar: benefit, recompense}.
10 For if they fall, one will raise his companion{chavero: friend, close associate}; but woe{veilo: lament expressing misfortune} to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.
11 Also, if two lie down together {yishkevu: rest together}, they become warm {cham: shared heat}; but how will one be warm by himself?
12 And if one should overpower{yitkefo: subdue forcefully} him, the two will stand against him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken{yinnateq: severed abruptly}.
14 For one will come out from the house {beit: place of confinement} of the prisoners {surim: bound ones} to reign, for even in his kingdom he was born poor.
15 I saw all the living {chayim: life’s journey} who walk under the sun, alongside the second {sheni: sequential successor} child who will stand in his place.
16 There is no end to all the people, even to all who were before them; yet those who come after will not rejoice in him. For this also is vanity {hevel: fleeting vapor} and a striving after the wind {ruach: elusive pursuit}.