Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, October 5th, 2024
the Week of Proper 21 / Ordinary 26
the Week of Proper 21 / Ordinary 26
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Updated Bible Version
Ecclesiastes 4:3
yes, better than them both [did I esteem] him that has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
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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.
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.
New American Standard Bible (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.
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.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Yea him that is yet vnborne, to be better at ease then they both: because he seeth not the miserable workes that are done vnder the sunne.
Yea him that is yet vnborne, to be better at ease then they both: because he seeth not the miserable workes that are done vnder the sunne.
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.
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.
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.
Yet, better than both is he who has never existed, Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
Literal Translation
Yea, better than both is he who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
Yea, better than both is he who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
Easy-to-Read Version
And it is even better for those who die at birth, because they never saw the evil that is done in this world.
And it is even better for those who die at birth, because they never saw the evil that is done in this world.
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.
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.
King James Version (1611)
Yea better is he then both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seene the euill worke that is done vnder the Sunne.
Yea better is he then both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seene the euill worke that is done vnder the Sunne.
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.
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.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
yee him that is yet vnborne to be better at ease the they both, because he seith not the miserable workes that are done vnder the Sonne.
yee him that is yet vnborne to be better at ease the they both, because he seith not the miserable workes that are done vnder the Sonne.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
New English Translation
But better than both is the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth.
But better than both is the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth.
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."
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."
Complete Jewish Bible
but happier than either of them is the one who has not yet been born, because he has not yet seen the evil things that are done under the sun.
but happier than either of them is the one who has not yet been born, because he has not yet seen the evil things that are done under the sun.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And I count him better then them both, which hath not yet bin: for he hath not seene the euill workes which are wrought vnder the sunne.
And I count him better then them both, which hath not yet bin: for he hath not seene the euill workes which are wrought vnder the sunne.
George Lamsa Translation
But, 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.
But, 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.
Hebrew Names Version
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.
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.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
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.
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.
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.
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.
New Life Bible
But better than both is the one who has never been, who has never seen the wrong that is done under the sun.
But better than both is the one who has never been, who has never seen the wrong that is done under the sun.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.
New Revised Standard
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.
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.
J.B. Rotherham 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.
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.
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.
And I judged him happier than them both, that is not yet born, nor hath seen the evils that are done under the sun.
Lexham English 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
New Century Version
But those who have never been born are better off still; they have not seen the evil that is done here on earth.
But those who have never been born are better off still; they have not seen the evil that is done here on earth.
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.
But better off than either are those who have never been born, who have never seen the injustice that goes on in this world.
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.
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.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and Y demyde hym, that was not borun yit, and siy not the yuels that ben don vndur the sunne, to be blisfulere than euer eithir.
and Y demyde hym, that was not borun yit, and siy not the yuels that ben don vndur the sunne, to be blisfulere than euer eithir.
Revised 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.
but better than both is he who has not yet been, and has not seen the evil deeds that are 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.
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.
Contextual Overview
1 Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and, look, the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. 2 Therefore I praised the dead that have been long dead more than the living that are yet alive; 3 yes, better than them both [did I esteem] him that has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
better: Ecclesiastes 6:3-5, Job 3:10-16, Job 10:18, Job 10:19, Jeremiah 20:17, Jeremiah 20:18, Matthew 24:19, Luke 23:29
who: Ecclesiastes 1:14, Ecclesiastes 2:17, Psalms 55:6-11, Jeremiah 9:2, Jeremiah 9:3
Reciprocal: Ecclesiastes 1:3 - under Ecclesiastes 2:18 - I hated
Cross-References
Genesis 4:1
And the man had sex with his wife Eve; and she became pregnant, and gave birth to Cain, and said, I have gotten a man with [the help of] Yahweh.
And the man had sex with his wife Eve; and she became pregnant, and gave birth to Cain, and said, I have gotten a man with [the help of] Yahweh.
Genesis 4:11
And now cursed are you from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand;
And now cursed are you from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand;
Numbers 18:12
All the best of the oil, and all the best of the vintage, and of the grain, the first fruits of them which they give to Yahweh, to you I have given them.
All the best of the oil, and all the best of the vintage, and of the grain, the first fruits of them which they give to Yahweh, to you I have given them.
1 Kings 17:7
And it came to pass after awhile, that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
And it came to pass after awhile, that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
Nehemiah 13:6
But in all this [time] I was not at Jerusalem; for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king: and after certain days I asked leave of the king,
But in all this [time] I was not at Jerusalem; for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king: and after certain days I asked leave of the king,
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Yea, better [is he] than both they which hath not yet been,.... That is, an unborn person; who is preferred both to the dead that have seen oppression, and to the living that are under it; see Job 3:10. This supposes a person to be that never was, a mere nonentity; and the judgment made is according to sense, and regards the dead purely as such, and so as free from evils and sorrows, without any respect to their future state and condition; for otherwise an unborn person is not happier than the dead that die in Christ, and live with him: and it can only be true of those that perish, of whom indeed it might be said, that it would have been better for them if they had never been born, according to those words of Christ,
Matthew 26:24; and is opposed to the maxim of some philosophers, that a miserable being is better than none at all. The Jews, from this passage, endeavour to prove the pre-existence of human souls, and suppose that such an one is here meant, which, though created, was not yet sent into this world in a body, and so had never seen evil and sorrow; and this way some Christian writers have gone. It has been interpreted also of the Messiah, who in Solomon's time had not yet been a man, and never known sorrow, which he was to do, and has, and so more happy than the dead or living. But these are senses that will not bear; the first is best; and the design is to show the great unhappiness of mortals, that even a nonentity is preferred to them;
who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun? the evil works of oppressors, and the sorrows of the oppressed.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Ecclesiastes 4:3. Which hath not yet been — Better never to have been born into the world, than to have seen and suffered so many miseries.
