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Psalms 149

Amplified Bible, 2015 (AMP)

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¹ Then I looked again and considered all the acts of oppression that were being practiced under the sun. And behold I saw the tears of the oppressed and they had no one to comfort them; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort them.

² So I congratulated and thought more fortunate are those who are already dead than the living who are still living.

³ But better off than either of them is the one who has not yet been born, who has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

⁴ I have seen that every [effort in] labor and every skill in work comes from man's rivalry with his neighbor. This too is vanity (futility, false pride) and chasing after the wind.

⁵ The fool folds his hands [together] and consumes his own flesh [destroying himself by idleness and apathy].

⁶ One hand full of rest and patience is better than two fists full of labor and chasing after the wind.

⁷ Then I looked again at vanity under the sun [in one of its peculiar forms].

⁸ There was a certain man—without a dependent, having neither a child nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, "For whom do I labor and deprive myself of pleasure?" This too is vanity (a wisp of smoke, self-conceit); yes, it is a painful effort and an unhappy task.

⁹ Two are better than one because they have a more satisfying return for their labor;

#	AMP
1	Then I looked again and considered all the acts of oppression that were being practiced under the sun. And behold I saw the tears of the oppressed and they had no one to comfort them; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort them.
2	So I congratulated and thought more fortunate are those who are already dead than the living who are still living.
3	But better off than either of them is the one who has not yet been born, who has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
4	I have seen that every [effort in] labor and every skill in work comes from man's rivalry with his neighbor. This too is vanity (futility, false pride) and chasing after the wind.
5	The fool folds his hands [together] and consumes his own flesh [destroying himself by idleness and apathy].
6	One hand full of rest and patience is better than two fists full of labor and chasing after the wind.
7	Then I looked again at vanity under the sun [in one of its peculiar forms].
8	There was a certain man—without a dependent, having neither a child nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, "For whom do I labor and deprive myself of pleasure?" This too is vanity (a wisp of smoke, self-conceit); yes, it is a painful effort and an unhappy task.
9	Two are better than one because they have a more satisfying return for their labor;

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