Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version But better than both is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun. New Living Translation But most fortunate of all are those who are not yet born. For they have not seen all the evil that is done under the sun. English Standard Version But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun. Berean Standard Bible But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun. King James Bible 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. New King James Version Yet, better than both is he who has never existed, Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. New American Standard Bible But better off than both of them is the one who has never existed, who has never seen the evil activity that is done under the sun. NASB 1995 But better off than both of them is the one who has never existed, who has never seen the evil activity that is done under the sun. NASB 1977 But better off than both of them is the one who has never existed, who has never seen the evil activity that is done under the sun. Legacy Standard Bible But better off than both of them is the one who never has been, who has never seen the evil work that is done under the sun. Amplified Bible But better off than either of them is the one who has not yet been born, who has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun. Christian Standard Bible But better than either of them is the one who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil activity that is done under the sun. Holman Christian Standard Bible But better than either of them is the one who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil activity that is done under the sun. American Standard Version 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. Contemporary English Version But those who have never been born are better off than anyone else, because they have never seen the terrible things that happen on this earth." English Revised Version 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. GOD'S WORD® Translation 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. Good News Translation But better off than either are those who have never been born, who have never seen the injustice that goes on in this world. International Standard Version Better than both of them is someone who has not yet been born, because he hasn't experienced evil on earth. Majority Standard Bible But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun. NET Bible But better than both is the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth. New Heart English Bible 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. Webster's Bible Translation 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. World English Bible 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. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd better than both of them [is] he who has not yet been, in that he has not seen the evil work that has been done under the sun. Young's Literal Translation 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. Smith's Literal Translation And good above them two which were not yet, which saw not the evil work which was done under the sun. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd I judged him happier than them both, that is not yet born, nor hath seen the evils that are done under the sun. Catholic Public Domain Version And happier than both of these, I judged him to be, who has not yet been born, and who has not yet seen the evils which are done under the sun. New American Bible And better off than both is the yet unborn, who has not seen the wicked work that is done under the sun. New Revised Standard Version 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. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBut, better is he who has not yet been born than both of them, because he has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated But better than both of these is the one who is not yet, because he does not see the evil work that is done under the sun OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917but better than they both is he that hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. Brenton Septuagint Translation Better also than both these is he who has not yet been, who has not seen all the evil work that is done under the sun. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Evil of Oppression…2So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive. 3But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun. 4I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.… Cross References Job 3:11-16 Why did I not perish at birth; why did I not die as I came from the womb? / Why were there knees to receive me, and breasts that I should be nursed? / For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest ... Jeremiah 20:14-18 Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me never be blessed. / Cursed be the man who brought my father the news, saying, “A son is born to you,” bringing him great joy. / May that man be like the cities that the LORD overthrew without compassion. May he hear an outcry in the morning and a battle cry at noon, ... Matthew 26:24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed. It would be better for him if he had not been born.” Job 10:18-19 Why then did You bring me from the womb? Oh, that I had died, and no eye had seen me! / If only I had never come to be, but had been carried from the womb to the grave. Philippians 1:21-23 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. / But if I go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. So what shall I choose? I do not know. / I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed. Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven telling me to write, “Blessed are the dead—those who die in the Lord from this moment on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labors, for their deeds will follow them.” 1 Corinthians 15:19 If our hope in Christ is for this life alone, we are to be pitied more than all men. Isaiah 57:1-2 The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one considers that the righteous are taken away from the presence of evil. / Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest, lying down in death. Luke 23:29 Look, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore, and breasts that never nursed!’ 2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. Psalm 139:15-16 My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. / Your eyes saw my unformed body; all my days were written in Your book and ordained for me before one of them came to be. Romans 8:18-23 I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us. / The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. / For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope ... Genesis 5:24 Enoch walked with God, and then he was no more, because God had taken him away. Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 1 Kings 19:4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” Treasury of Scripture Yes, better is he than both they, which has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. better Ecclesiastes 6:3-5 If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he… Job 3:10-16 Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes… Job 10:18,19 Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me! … who Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Ecclesiastes 2:17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Psalm 55:6-11 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest… Jump to Previous Activity Better Dead Deeds Esteem Evil Existed Happier Seemed Sun WorkJump to Next Activity Better Dead Deeds Esteem Evil Existed Happier Seemed Sun WorkEcclesiastes 4 1. vanity is increased unto men by oppression4. by envy 5. by idleness 7. by covetousness 9. by solitariness 13. by willfulness But better than both This phrase introduces a comparison, suggesting a state that surpasses two previously mentioned conditions. In the context of Ecclesiastes, the "both" refers to the living and the dead. The Hebrew word for "better" is "טוֹב" (tov), which often conveys goodness, prosperity, or a preferable state. The author, traditionally believed to be Solomon, uses this to emphasize the profound disillusionment with the world's injustices and sufferings. From a conservative Christian perspective, this highlights the fallen nature of the world post-Eden, where sin has marred the original goodness of creation. is he who has not yet existed who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun Πάντων μὲν μὴ φῦναι ἐπιχθονίοισιν ἄριστον "'Tis best for mortals never to be born, "Nam nos decebat, caetus celebrantes, domum Hebrew But betterוְטוֹב֙ (wə·ṭō·wḇ) Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good than both מִשְּׁנֵיהֶ֔ם (miš·šə·nê·hem) Preposition-m | Number - mdc | third person masculine plural Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number) is he who אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that has not לֹ֣א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no yet עֲדֶ֖ן (‘ă·ḏen) Adverb Strong's 5728: Hitherto, still existed, הָיָ֑ה (hā·yāh) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be who אֲשֶׁ֤ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that has not לֹֽא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no seen רָאָה֙ (rā·’āh) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7200: To see the evil הָרָ֔ע (hā·rā‘) Article | Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 7451: Bad, evil that אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that is done נַעֲשָׂ֖ה (na·‘ă·śāh) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 6213: To do, make under תַּ֥חַת (ta·ḥaṯ) Preposition Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of the sun. הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ (haš·šā·meš) Article | Noun - common singular Strong's 8121: The sun, the east, a ray, a notched battlement Links Ecclesiastes 4:3 NIVEcclesiastes 4:3 NLT Ecclesiastes 4:3 ESV Ecclesiastes 4:3 NASB Ecclesiastes 4:3 KJV Ecclesiastes 4:3 BibleApps.com Ecclesiastes 4:3 Biblia Paralela Ecclesiastes 4:3 Chinese Bible Ecclesiastes 4:3 French Bible Ecclesiastes 4:3 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 4:3 Yes better than them both is him (Ecclesiast. 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