¹So 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.

¹Ja ma nägin taas kõiki rõhumisi, mida pandi toime päikese all, ja vaata, seal olid rõhutute pisarad, aga neil ei olnud trööstijat! Nende rõhujate käes oli võim, aga neil ei olnud trööstijat.

²Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.

²Siis ma kiitsin surnuid, kes olid ammu surnud, õnnelikumaks kui elavaid, kes veel tänini elavad,

³Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

³ja et parem kui neil kummalgi on sellel, keda veel ei ole olemas, kes veel ei ole näinud seda kurja tööd, mida päikese all tehakse.

⁴Again, 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.

⁴Ja ma nägin, et kõik vaev ja kõik saavutused töös tekitavad inimeses ainult kadedust ligimese vastu. Seegi on tühi töö ja vaimunärimine!

⁵The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

⁵Alp paneb käed risti ja sööb omaenese ihu.

⁶Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

⁶Parem üks peotäis rahuga kui kaks peotäit vaeva ja vaimunärimisega.

⁷Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

⁷Ja taas nägin ma tühja tööd päikese all:

⁸There 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.

⁸seal on keegi üksik, tal ei ole kedagi, ei poega ega venda, kuid ometi pole otsa kogu ta vaeval ja ta silmad ei saa rikkusest küllalt. Aga kelle pärast ma siis ennast vaevan ja keelan oma hingele head nautimast? Seegi on tühi ja õnnetu töö!

⁹Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

⁹Parem on olla kahekesi kui üksi, sest neil on oma vaevast hea palk:

¹⁰For 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.

¹⁰kui nad langevad, siis tõstab teine oma kaaslase üles. Aga häda sellele, kes üksik on, kui ta langeb, ega ole teist, kes ta üles tõstaks!

¹¹Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

¹¹Nõndasamuti: kui kaks magavad üheskoos, siis on neil soe; aga kuidas üksik sooja saab?

¹²And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

¹²Ja kui ka üksikust jagu saadakse, siis kaks panevad ometi vastu; ja kolmekordset lõnga ei kista katki nii kergesti.

¹³Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

¹³Parem on vaene, aga tark nooruk kui vana ja alp kuningas, kes enam ei taipa hoiatust tähele panna.

¹⁴For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.

¹⁴Sest too tuli vangikojast valitsema, kuigi oli sündinud vaesena tema kuningriigis.

¹⁵I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.

¹⁵Ma nägin kõiki elavaid, kes liiguvad päikese all, olevat tolle teise, nooruki poolt, kes pidi astuma tema asemele.

¹⁶There 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.

¹⁶Ei olnud lõppu kogu sellel rahval, neil kõigil, kelle eesotsas ta oli; ometi ei tunne järeltulijad temast rõõmu. Sest seegi on tühi töö ja vaimunärimine.

¹⁷Hoia oma jalga, kui sa lähed Jumala kotta! Kuulamaminek on parem kui alpide ohvriand, sest need ei tea, et nad teevad kurja.