我转而观看日光之下所发生的一切欺压之事。看哪，受欺压的流泪，无人安慰；欺压他们的有权势，也无人安慰。
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因此，我赞叹那已死的死人，胜过那还活着的活人。Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
3但那尚未出生，就是未曾见过日光之下所发生之恶事的，比这两种人更幸福。Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4我见人因彼此嫉妒而有一切的劳碌和各样工作的成就，这也是虚空，也是捕风。Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
5愚昧人抱着双臂， 自食其肉。The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
6一掌满满而得享安静， 胜过两掌满满而劳碌捕风。Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
7我转而观看日光之下有一件虚空的事：Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
8有人孤单无双，无子无兄弟，竟劳碌不息，眼目也不以财富为满足。他说：“我劳碌，自己却不享福，到底是为了谁呢？”这也是虚空，是极沉重的担子。There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
9两个人总比一个人好，他们劳碌同得美好的报偿。Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
10若是跌倒，这人可以扶起他的同伴；倘若孤身跌倒，没有别人扶起他来，这人就有祸了。For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
11再者，二人同睡就都暖和，一人独睡怎能暖和呢？Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
12若遇敌攻击，孤身难挡，二人就能抵挡他；三股合成的绳子不易折断。And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13贫穷而有智慧的年轻人，胜过年老不再纳谏的愚昧王，Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
14那人从监牢里出来作王，在国中原是出身贫寒。For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.
15我见日光之下所有行走的活人，都跟随那年轻人，就是接续作王的那位。I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
16他的百姓，就是他所治理的众人，多得无数；但后来的人还是不喜欢他。这也是虚空，也是捕风。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.