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but better than both is he who has not yet been, and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

The fool folds his hands, and eats his own flesh.

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But better than both
    is the one who has never been born,(A)
who has not seen the evil
    that is done under the sun.(B)

And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.(C)

Fools fold their hands(D)
    and ruin themselves.

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