3 But someone who hasn't been born yet is better off than the dead or the living. That's because he hasn't seen the evil things that are done on earth.
4 I also saw that man works hard and accomplishes a lot. But he does it only because he wants what his neighbor has. That doesn't have any meaning either. It's like chasing the wind.
5 A foolish person folds his hands and doesn't work. And that destroys him.
6 One handful with peace and quiet is better than two handfuls with hard work. Working too hard is like chasing the wind.
7 Again I saw something on earth that didn't mean anything.
8 A man lived all by himself. He didn't have any sons or brothers. His hard work never ended. But he wasn't happy with what he had. "Who am I working so hard for?" he asked. "Why don't I get the things I enjoy?" That doesn't have any meaning either. In fact, it's a very bad deal!
9 Two people are better than one. They can help each other in everything they do.