I saw the tears of the oppressed—
    and they have no comforter;
power was on the side of their oppressors—
    and they have no comforter.^(B)
2 And I declared that the dead,^(C)
    who had already died,
are happier than the living,
    who are still alive.^(D)
3 But better than both
    is the one who has never been born,^(E)
who has not seen the evil
    that is done under the sun.^(F)

⁵ Fools fold their hands^(H)
    and ruin themselves.
⁶ Better one handful with tranquillity
    than two handfuls with toil^(I)
    and chasing after the wind.

⁸ There was a man all alone;
    he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil,
    yet his eyes were not content^(J) with his wealth.
“For whom am I toiling,” he asked,
    “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”
This too is meaningless—
    a miserable business!

⁹ Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
¹⁰ If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.
¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
    But how can one keep warm alone?
¹² Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

² Let the redeemed^(C) of the Lord tell their story—
    those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
³ those he gathered^(D) from the lands,
    from east and west, from north and south.^[a]

⁴ Some wandered in desert^(E) wastelands,
    finding no way to a city^(F) where they could settle.
⁵ They were hungry^(G) and thirsty,^(H)
    and their lives ebbed away.
⁶ Then they cried out^(I) to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress.
⁷ He led them by a straight way^(J)
    to a city^(K) where they could settle.
⁸ Let them give thanks^(L) to the Lord for his unfailing love^(M)
    and his wonderful deeds^(N) for mankind,
⁹ for he satisfies^(O) the thirsty
    and fills the hungry with good things.^(P)

¹⁰ Some sat in darkness,^(Q) in utter darkness,
    prisoners suffering^(R) in iron chains,^(S)
11 because they rebelled^(T) against God’s commands
    and despised^(U) the plans^(V) of the Most High.
¹² So he subjected them to bitter labor;
    they stumbled, and there was no one to help.^(W)
13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he saved them^(X) from their distress.
¹⁴ He brought them out of darkness,^(Y) the utter darkness,^(Z)
    and broke away their chains.^(AA)
15 Let them give thanks^(AB) to the Lord for his unfailing love^(AC)
    and his wonderful deeds^(AD) for mankind,
¹⁶ for he breaks down gates of bronze
    and cuts through bars of iron.

¹⁷ Some became fools^(AE) through their rebellious ways^(AF)
    and suffered affliction^(AG) because of their iniquities.
¹⁸ They loathed all food^(AH)
    and drew near the gates of death.^(AI)
19 Then they cried^(AJ) to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he saved them^(AK) from their distress.
²⁰ He sent out his word^(AL) and healed them;^(AM)
    he rescued^(AN) them from the grave.^(AO)
21 Let them give thanks^(AP) to the Lord for his unfailing love^(AQ)
    and his wonderful deeds^(AR) for mankind.
²² Let them sacrifice thank offerings^(AS)
    and tell of his works^(AT) with songs of joy.^(AU)

²³ Some went out on the sea^(AV) in ships;^(AW)
    they were merchants on the mighty waters.
²⁴ They saw the works of the Lord,^(AX)
    his wonderful deeds in the deep.
²⁵ For he spoke^(AY) and stirred up a tempest^(AZ)
    that lifted high the waves.^(BA)
26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
    in their peril^(BB) their courage melted^(BC) away.
²⁷ They reeled^(BD) and staggered like drunkards;
    they were at their wits’ end.
²⁸ Then they cried^(BE) out to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he brought them out of their distress.^(BF)
29 He stilled the storm^(BG) to a whisper;
    the waves^(BH) of the sea^[b] were hushed.^(BI)
30 They were glad when it grew calm,
    and he guided them^(BJ) to their desired haven.
³¹ Let them give thanks^(BK) to the Lord for his unfailing love^(BL)
    and his wonderful deeds^(BM) for mankind.
³² Let them exalt^(BN) him in the assembly^(BO) of the people
    and praise him in the council of the elders.

³³ He turned rivers into a desert,^(BP)
    flowing springs^(BQ) into thirsty ground,
³⁴ and fruitful land into a salt waste,^(BR)
    because of the wickedness of those who lived there.
³⁵ He turned the desert into pools of water^(BS)
    and the parched ground into flowing springs;^(BT)
36 there he brought the hungry to live,
    and they founded a city where they could settle.
³⁷ They sowed fields and planted vineyards^(BU)
    that yielded a fruitful harvest;
³⁸ he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased,^(BV)
    and he did not let their herds diminish.^(BW)

³⁹ Then their numbers decreased,^(BX) and they were humbled^(BY)
    by oppression, calamity and sorrow;
⁴⁰ he who pours contempt on nobles^(BZ)
    made them wander in a trackless waste.^(CA)
41 But he lifted the needy^(CB) out of their affliction
    and increased their families like flocks.^(CC)
42 The upright see and rejoice,^(CD)
    but all the wicked shut their mouths.^(CE)

⁴³ Let the one who is wise^(CF) heed these things
    and ponder the loving deeds^(CG) of the Lord.