I saw the tears of the oppressed,
    with no one present to comfort them.
Power was wielded by their oppressors,
    and no one was there to comfort them.
² As a result, I regarded the dead as fortunate,
    because they had already died
and thus were happier than the living
    who were still alive.
³ But happier than both of these
    is the one yet unborn
who has not witnessed the evil deeds
    that are done under the sun.