Ecclesiastes 4:1-3

English Standard Version

Evil Under the Sun

4 ^(A)Again I ^(B)saw all ^(C)the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had ^(D)no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. ²And I ^(E)thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. ³But ^(F)better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

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Ecclesiastes 5:8-9

English Standard Version

The Vanity of Wealth and Honor

⁸^(A)If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, ^(B)do not be amazed at the matter, ^(C)for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. ⁹But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.^[a]