2 And I accounted the dead who died long ago Happier than the living who are still alive;
3 While happier than either is he who hath not been born, Who hath not seen the evil which is done under the sun.
[Sidenote: _It is rendered hopeless by the base Origin of Human Industries._ Ch. iv., vv. 4-8.]
4 Then too I saw that all this toil, And all this dexterity in toil, Spring from man's rivalry with his neighbour: This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
5 The sluggard foldeth his hands, Yet he eateth his meat:
6 Better a handful of quiet Than two handsful of labour with vexation of spirit.
7 And again I turned, and saw a vanity under the sun:
8 Here is a man who hath no one with him, Not even a son or a brother; And yet there is no end of all his labour, Neither are his eyes satisfied with riches: For whom, then, doth he labour and deny his soul any of his wealth? This too is vanity and an evil work.
[Sidenote: _Yet these are capable of a nobler Motive and Mode._ Ch. iv., vv. 9-16.]
9 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labour:
10 For if one fall, the other will lift up his fellow; But woe to the lonely one who falleth And hath no fellow to lift him up!
11 Moreover, if two sleep together, they are warm; But he that is alone, how can he be warm?
12 And if an enemy assail the one, two will withstand him. And a threefold cord is not easily broken.
13 Happier is a poor and wise youth Than an old and foolish king Who even yet has not learned to take warning;
14 For he goeth forth from the prison to the throne, Although he was born a poor man in the kingdom.
15 I see all the living who walk under the sun Flocking to the youth who stood up in his stead;
16 There is no end to the multitude of the people over whom he ruleth: Nevertheless those who live after him will not rejoice in him; For even this is vanity and vexation of spirit.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: _So also a nobler and happier Mode of Worship is open to men:_ Ch. v., vv. 1-7.]
1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the House of God; For it is better to obey than to offer the sacrifice of fools, Who know not when they do evil.
2 Do not hurry on thy mouth, And do not force thy heart to utter words before God; For God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: Therefore let thy words be few.
3 For as a dream cometh through much occupation, So foolish talk through many words.
4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, Defer not to pay it; For he is a fool whose will is not steadfast. Pay that which thou hast vowed.
5 Better that thou shouldest not vow Than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin, And say not before the Angel, "It was an error:" For why should God be angry at thine idle talk And destroy the work of thy hands?
VER. 6. _Before the Angel._ That is, before the Angel who, as the Hebrews thought, presided over the altar of worship, and who was present even when only two or three met for the study of the Law: to study the Law being in itself an act of worship.
7 For in many words, as in many dreams, there is vanity: But fear thou God.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: _And a more helpful and consolatory Trust in the Divine Providence._ Ch. v., vv. 8-17.]
8 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, And the perversion of justice in the State, Be not dismayed thereat; For superior watcheth superior, And superiors again watch over them: