Parallel Verses
Youngs 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.
New American Standard Bible
But
King James Version
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.
Holman Bible
But better than either of them is the one who has not yet existed,
International Standard Version
Better than both of them is someone who has not yet been born, because he hasn't experienced evil on earth.
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.
Amplified
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.
Bible in Basic English
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.
Darby Translation
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.
Julia Smith Translation
And good above them two which were not yet, which saw not the evil work which was done under the sun.
King James 2000
Yea, better is he than both, who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
Lexham Expanded Bible
But better [off] than both of them is the one who has not yet been born and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
Modern King James verseion
Yea, better than both is he who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
Yea, him that is yet unborn to be better at ease than they both, because he seeth not the miserable works that are 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.
The Emphasized Bible
and, as better than both, him who had not yet come into being, - who had not seen the vexatious work, which was done under the sun.
Webster
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.
Interlinear
Towb
Sh@nayim
Ra'ah
References
Fausets
Word Count of 19 Translations in Ecclesiastes 4:3
Verse Info
Context Readings
The Existence Of Oppression In The World Makes Human Existence Miserable
2 And I am praising the dead who have already died above the living who are yet alive. 3 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. 4 And I have seen all the labour, and all the benefit of the work, because for it a man is the envy of his neighbour. Even this is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Cross References
Luke 23:29
for, lo, days do come, in which they shall say, Happy the barren, and wombs that did not bare, and paps that did not give suck;
Job 3:10-16
Because it hath not shut the doors Of the womb that was mine! And hide misery from mine eyes.
Job 3:22
Who are glad -- unto joy, They rejoice when they find a grave.
Job 10:18-19
And why from the womb Hast Thou brought me forth? I expire, and the eye doth not see me.
Psalm 55:6-11
And I say, 'Who doth give to me a pinion as a dove? I fly away and rest,
Ecclesiastes 1:14
I have seen all the works that have been done under the sun, and lo, the whole is vanity and vexation of spirit!
Ecclesiastes 2:17
And I have hated life, for sad to me is the work that hath been done under the sun, for the whole is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Ecclesiastes 6:3-5
If a man doth beget a hundred, and live many years, and is great, because they are the days of his years, and his soul is not satisfied from the goodness, and also he hath not had a grave, I have said, 'Better than he is the untimely birth.'
Jeremiah 9:2-3
Who doth give me in a wilderness A lodging-place of travellers? And I leave my people, and go from them, For all of them are adulterers, An assembly of treacherous ones.
Jeremiah 20:17-18
Because he hath not put me to death from the womb, And my mother is to me -- my grave, And her womb a pregnancy age-during.
Matthew 24:19
'And woe to those with child, and to those giving suck in those days;