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.

¹Potom som sa obrátil a videl som všetky tie útisky, ktoré sa dejú pod slnkom, a hľa, slzy utiskovaných, a nemali toho, kto by potešil, ani moci vyprostiť sa z ruky tých, ktorí ich utiskovali, ani tedy nemali toho, kto by potešil.

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

²Preto som za šťastnejších vychvaľoval mŕtvych, ktorí už dávno pomreli, ako živých, ktorí žijú po dnes,

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.

³a že lepšie nad obojich je tomu, kto ešte vôbec nebol, kto nevidel zlého skutku, ktorý sa deje pod slnkom.

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.

⁴A videl som všetku tú námahu a každú tú obratnosť v práci, že je to revnivosť jedného na druhého. Aj to je márnosť a honba po vetre.

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

⁵Blázon zakladá svoje ruky a jie svoje mäso.

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

⁶Lepšia vraj plná hrsť pokoja ako plné priehrštia námahy a honby po vetre.

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

⁷A zase som sa obrátil a videl som inú márnosť pod slncom.

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.

⁸Niekto je sám, a neni druhého; nemá ani syna ani brata, a predsa nie je konca všetkej jeho namáhavej práci, ani sa jeho oči nenasýtia bohatstva, ani si nepovie: Pre koho sa ja trudím a pracujem a unímam svojej duši dobrého? Aj to je márnosť a zlé zamestnanie.

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

⁹Lepšie dvom ako jednému, pretože majú dobrú mzdu za svoju prácu.

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.

¹⁰Lebo ak padnú, jeden pozdvihne svojho druha. Ale beda jednému, ktorý padne; neni druhého, aby ho pozdvihol.

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

¹¹Tiež ak ležia dvaja spolu, zahrejú sa; ale jeden akože sa zahreje?

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

¹²A keby sa niekto chcel zmocniť toho jedného, oni dvaja sa postavia proti nemu, a motúz, spletený vo troje, nepretrhne sa tak rýchle.

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

¹³Lepšie chudobné dieťa a múdre ako starý kráľ a blázon, ktorý sa už nevie ani dať poučiť.

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

¹⁴Lebo vyšlo z domu väzňov, aby kraľovalo, keď sa aj v jeho kráľovstve narodilo chudobné.

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

¹⁵Videl som všetkých živých, ktorí chodia pod slnkom, s tým druhým dieťaťom, ktoré sa postavilo na jeho miesto.

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.

¹⁶Nebolo konca všetkému ľudu, všetkým, ktorým bol na čele; ale už potomci sa mu neradovali. Istotne je i to márnosť a shon po vetre.