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1. Again I saw all the people who were mistreated here on earth. I saw their tears and that they had no one to comfort them. Cruel people had all the power, and there was no one to comfort those they hurt.
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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 .
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2. I decided that the dead are better off than the living.
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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 .
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3. But those who have never been born are better off still; they have not seen the evil that is done here on earth.
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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 .
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4. I realized the reason people work hard and try to succeed: They are jealous of each other. This, too, is useless, like chasing the wind.
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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 .
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5. Some say it is foolish to fold your hands and do nothing, because you will starve to death.
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5. The fool H3684 foldeth his hands together H2263 H853 H3027 , and eateth H398 H853 his own flesh H1320 .
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6. Maybe so, but I say it is better to be content with what little you have. Otherwise, you will always be struggling for more, and that is like chasing the wind.
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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 .
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7. Again I saw something here on earth that was useless:
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7. Then I H589 returned H7725 , and I saw H7200 vanity H1892 under H8478 the sun H8121 .
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8. I saw a man who had no family, no son or brother. He always worked hard but was never satisfied with what he had. He never asked himself, "For whom am I working so hard? Why don't I let myself enjoy life?" This also is very sad and useless.
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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 .
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9. Two people are better than one, because they get more done by working together.
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9. Two H8147 are better H2896 than H4480 one H259 ; because H834 they have H3426 a good H2896 reward H7939 for their labor H5999 .
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10. If one falls down, the other can help him up. But it is bad for the person who is alone and falls, because no one is there to help.
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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 .
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11. If two lie down together, they will be warm, but a person alone will not be warm.
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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 ?
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12. An enemy might defeat one person, but two people together can defend themselves; a rope that is woven of three strings is hard to break.
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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 .
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13. A poor but wise boy is better than a foolish but old king who doesn't listen to advice.
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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 .
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14. A boy became king. He had been born poor in the kingdom and had even gone to prison before becoming king.
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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 .
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15. I watched all the people who live on earth follow him and make him their king.
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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 .
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16. Many followed him at first, but later, they did not like him, either. So fame and power are useless, like chasing the wind.
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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 .
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