2Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.
3Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4Then I saw all the labour and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
5The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.
6Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labour and chasing after wind.
7Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
8There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then do I labour and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.
9Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labour.
Ecclesiastes 4
Ecclesiastes 4:2-9