1But 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. 2Therefore I praised the dead that are already dead more than the living that are yet alive; 3but better than they both is he that has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. 4Again, I considered all labor and all excelling in work, that it is a man’s rivalry with his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. 5The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh. 6Better is a handful of quietness, than both the hands full of labor and striving after wind. 7Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun. 8There is one that is alone, and he has not a second; yes, he has neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labor, neither is his eye satisfied with riches, “for whom then do I labor, and bereave my soul of pleasure?” This also is vanity, yes, it is a grievous business. 9Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. 10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falls, and has not another to lift him up. 11Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone? 12And if a man prevails against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 13Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knows not how to receive admonition any more. 14For out of prison he came forth to be king; although in his kingdom he was born poor. 15I saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the child, the second, that was to stand up in his stead. 16There was no end of all the people, even of all them whom he did lead; yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind. 17Guard your foot when you go to Beit HaElohim, and be ready to hearken: it is better than when fools give sacrifices; for they know not that they do evil.
אוְשַׁבְתִּי אֲנִי וָאֶרְאֶה אֶת כָּל הָעֲשֻׁקִים אֲשֶׁר נַעֲשִׂים תַּחַת הַשָּׁמֶשׁ; וְהִנֵּה דִּמְעַת הָעֲשֻׁקִים וְאֵין לָהֶם מְנַחֵם וּמִיַּד עֹשְׁקֵיהֶם כֹּחַ וְאֵין לָהֶם מְנַחֵם. בוְשַׁבֵּחַ אֲנִי אֶת הַמֵּתִים שֶׁכְּבָר מֵתוּ מִן הַחַיִּים אֲשֶׁר הֵמָּה חַיִּים עֲדֶנָה. גוְטוֹב מִשְּׁנֵיהֶם אֵת אֲשֶׁר עֲדֶן לֹא הָיָה: אֲשֶׁר לֹא רָאָה אֶת הַמַּעֲשֶׂה הָרָע אֲשֶׁר נַעֲשָׂה תַּחַת הַשָּׁמֶשׁ. דוְרָאִיתִי אֲנִי אֶת כָּל עָמָל וְאֵת כָּל כִּשְׁרוֹן הַמַּעֲשֶׂה כִּי הִיא קִנְאַת אִישׁ מֵרֵעֵהוּ; גַּם זֶה הֶבֶל וּרְעוּת רוּחַ. ההַכְּסִיל חֹבֵק אֶת יָדָיו וְאֹכֵל אֶת בְּשָׂרוֹ. וטוֹב מְלֹא כַף נָחַת מִמְּלֹא חָפְנַיִם עָמָל וּרְעוּת רוּחַ. זוְשַׁבְתִּי אֲנִי וָאֶרְאֶה הֶבֶל תַּחַת הַשָּׁמֶשׁ. חיֵשׁ אֶחָד וְאֵין שֵׁנִי גַּם בֵּן וָאָח אֵין לוֹ וְאֵין קֵץ לְכָל עֲמָלוֹ גַּם עיניו (עֵינוֹ) לֹא תִשְׂבַּע עֹשֶׁר; וּלְמִי אֲנִי עָמֵל וּמְחַסֵּר אֶת נַפְשִׁי מִטּוֹבָה גַּם זֶה הֶבֶל וְעִנְיַן רָע הוּא. טטוֹבִים הַשְּׁנַיִם מִן הָאֶחָד: אֲשֶׁר יֵשׁ לָהֶם שָׂכָר טוֹב בַּעֲמָלָם. יכִּי אִם יִפֹּלוּ הָאֶחָד יָקִים אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ; וְאִילוֹ הָאֶחָד שֶׁיִּפּוֹל וְאֵין שֵׁנִי לַהֲקִימוֹ. יאגַּם אִם יִשְׁכְּבוּ שְׁנַיִם וְחַם לָהֶם; וּלְאֶחָד אֵיךְ יֵחָם. יבוְאִם יִתְקְפוֹ הָאֶחָד הַשְּׁנַיִם יַעַמְדוּ נֶגְדּוֹ; וְהַחוּט הַמְשֻׁלָּשׁ לֹא בִמְהֵרָה יִנָּתֵק. יגטוֹב יֶלֶד מִסְכֵּן וְחָכָם מִמֶּלֶךְ זָקֵן וּכְסִיל אֲשֶׁר לֹא יָדַע לְהִזָּהֵר עוֹד. ידכִּי מִבֵּית הָסוּרִים יָצָא לִמְלֹךְ: כִּי גַּם בְּמַלְכוּתוֹ נוֹלַד רָשׁ. טורָאִיתִי אֶת כָּל הַחַיִּים הַמְהַלְּכִים תַּחַת הַשָּׁמֶשׁ עִם הַיֶּלֶד הַשֵּׁנִי אֲשֶׁר יַעֲמֹד תַּחְתָּיו. טזאֵין קֵץ לְכָל הָעָם לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר הָיָה לִפְנֵיהֶם גַּם הָאַחֲרוֹנִים לֹא יִשְׂמְחוּ בוֹ: כִּי גַם זֶה הֶבֶל וְרַעְיוֹן רוּחַ. יזשְׁמֹר רגליך (רַגְלְךָ) כַּאֲשֶׁר תֵּלֵךְ אֶל בֵּית הָאֱלֹהִים וְקָרוֹב לִשְׁמֹעַ מִתֵּת הַכְּסִילִים זָבַח: כִּי אֵינָם יוֹדְעִים לַעֲשׂוֹת רָע.
D'var יהוה , The Word of יהוה 