How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)
Quote #1
I applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given to human beings to be busy with. (NRSV 1:13)
And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. (KJV 1:13)
Ecclesiastes sees life as being basically troublesome. This view of life—as a waste of time and a burden—seems like it goes against most of the rest of the Bible. But when you consider that, in Genesis, God tells Adam and Eve that life after the Fall is supposed to be painful and a punishment, what Ecclesiastes is saying might seem like less of a contradiction.
Quote #2
Again I saw all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun. Look, the tears of the oppressed—with no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power—with no one to comfort them. And I thought the dead, who have already died, more fortunate than the living, who are still alive; but better than both is the one who has not yet been, and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun. (NRSV 4:1-3)
So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. (KJV 4:1-3)
Ecclesiastes thinks that the dead are better off than the living—or, at least, that they're better off than the living people who aren't enjoying life or doing creative work, who are stuck in suffering without anyone to comfort them. He says he thinks it's even better not to have been born at all than to be stuck in this kind of life.
Quote #3
If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and right, do not be amazed at the matter; for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. (NRSV 5:8)
If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they. (KJV 5:8)
The poor suffer because people are always trying to ambitiously defeat each other and get on top of each other. It's a mad rush for power and wealth that can only cause more pain—for the people who are caught up in the rush, too.