The teacher looks at the oppression in the world and is saddened by it, but he is the king and has the power to change things. He also laments being alone even though he has many wives, children, and concubines. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/oppress]], [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/lament]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-irony]])