1 ثم رجعت ورأيت كل المظالم التي تجرى تحت الشمس فهوذا دموع المظلومين ولا معزّ لهم ومن يد ظالميهم قهر. اما هم فلا معزّ لهم.2 فغبطت انا الاموات الذين قد ماتوا منذ زمان اكثر من الاحياء الذين هم عائشون بعد3 وخير من كليهما الذي لم يولد بعد الذي لم ير العمل الرديء الذي عمل تحت الشمس4 ورأيت كل التعب وكل فلاح عمل انه حسد الانسان من قريبه. وهذا ايضا باطل وقبض الريح.5 الكسلان ياكل لحمه وهو طاو يديه.6 حفنة راحة خير من حفنتي تعب وقبض الريح7 ثم عدت ورأيت باطلا تحت الشمس.8 يوجد واحد ولا ثاني له وليس له ابن ولا اخ ولا نهاية لكل تعبه ولا تشبع عينه من الغنى. فلمن اتعب انا واحرم نفسي الخير. هذا ايضا باطل وامر رديء هو.9 اثنان خير من واحد لان لهما اجرة لتعبهما صالحة.10 لانه ان وقع احدهما يقيمه رفيقه. وويل لمن هو وحده ان وقع اذ ليس ثان ليقيمه.11 ايضا ان اضطجع اثنان يكون لهما دفء. اما الوحد فكيف يدفأ.12 وان غلب احد على الواحد يقف مقابله الاثنان والخيط المثلوث لا ينقطع سريعا13 ولد فقير وحكيم خير من ملك شيخ جاهل الذي لا يعرف ان يحذر بعد.14 لانه من السجن خرج الى الملك والمولود ملكا قد يفتقر.15 رأيت كل الاحياء السائرين تحت الشمس مع الولد الثاني الذي يقوم عوضا عنه.16 لا نهاية لكل الشعب لكل الذين كان امامهم. ايضا المتأخرون لا يفرحون به. فهذا ايضا باطل وقبض الريح

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 Why I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.3 Yes, better is he than both they, which has not yet been, who has 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 neighbor. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.5 The fool folds his hands together, and eats 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; yes, he has neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labor; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither said he, For whom do I labor, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yes, it is a sore travail.9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor.10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls; for he has 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 comes to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becomes 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.