1I thought some more about all the suffering that people are caused to experience on the earth [MTY].
2So I thought that those who are already dead are more fortunate
3And those who have not been born yet
4I also thought about all the hard work that people do and the skills that they have. And I thought about how they compete with each other because they are envious of others, and I concluded that this also is something that is not accomplishing anything useful, like chasing the wind.
5Foolish people refuse to work;
6So I say, “It is better to be content with not having much money,
7I thought about something else that happens on the earth [MTY] that seems senseless.
8There are men who live alone;
9Having someone work with you is better than being by yourself all the time.
10If you fall down, he can help you get up again.
11Similarly, if two people sleep together,
12Someone who is alone can easily be attacked and defeated by another person,
13A young man who is poor but wise is a better person than a foolish old king who refuses to pay attention when people try to give him good advice.
14It is possible for a young man like that to succeed and some day become king, even if his parents were poor or even if he was in prison some of the time.
15But then some other young man becomes king, and everyone ◄starts to support/is pleased with► him.
16Large crowds of people crowd around him. But after a few years, they will reject him, too. So it is all senseless, like chasing after the wind.