Ecclesiastes 4:3 But better than both is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.

◄ Ecclesiastes 4:3 ►

Parallel Verses

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And I judged him happier than them both, that is not yet born, nor hath seen the evils that are done under the sun.

Darby Bible 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.

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.

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

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.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

3. not seen—nor experienced.

Ecclesiastes 4:2

Ecclesiastes 4:4

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