Ecclesiastes 4:3 Parallel Translations

But the person who hasn't been born yet is better off than both of them. He hasn't seen the evil that is done under the sun.(GOD'S WORD®)

KJV:

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.

ASV:

yea, better than them both did I esteem him that hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

BBE:

Yes, happier than the dead or the living seemed he who has not ever been, who has not seen the evil which is done under the sun.

DBY:

and more fortunate than both is he who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

ERV:

yea, better than them both did I esteem him which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

JPS:

but better than they both is he that hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

WBS:

Yes, better is he than both they, who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

WEB:

Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

YLT:

And better than both of them is he who hath not yet been, in that he hath not seen the evil work that hath been done under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 4:3 Cross References

XREF:

Job 3:11 "Why did I not die at birth, Come forth from the womb and expire?

Ecclesiastes 6:3 If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many they be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things and he does not even have a proper burial, then I say, "Better the miscarriage than he,

Luke 23:29 "For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.' (NASB ©1995)

Commentaries and Concordances

GSB:

4:3 Yea, {c} better [is he] than both they, who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
(c) He speaks according to the judgment of the flesh which cannot abide to feel or see troubles.

WES:

4:3 Better is he - Who was never born. Not seen - Not felt: for as seeing good is put for enjoying it, so seeing evil is put for suffering it.

MHC:

4:1-3 It grieved Solomon to see might prevail against right. Wherever we turn, we see melancholy proofs of the wickedness and misery of mankind, who try to create trouble to themselves and to each other. Being thus hardly used, men are tempted to hate and despise life. But a good man, though badly off while in this world, cannot have cause to wish he had never been born, since he is glorifying the Lord, even in the fires, and will be happy at last, for ever happy. Ungodly men have most cause to wish the continuance of life with all its vexations, as a far more miserable condition awaits them if they die in their sins. If human and worldly things were our chief good, not to exist would be preferable to life, considering the various oppressions here below.

CONC:

Activity Better Dead Deeds Esteem Evil Existed Fortunate Happier Seemed Yea Yes Yet

Activity Better Dead Deeds Esteem Evil Existed Happier Seemed Sun Work

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GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved.

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