Ecclesiastes 4:2–3
Ecclesiastes 4:2–3 — The New International Version (NIV)
2 And I declared that the dead,
who had already died,
are happier than the living,
who are still alive.
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 4:2–3 — King James Version (KJV 1900)
2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. 3 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.
Ecclesiastes 4:2–3 — New Living Translation (NLT)
2 So I concluded that the dead are better off than the living. 3 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.
Ecclesiastes 4:2–3 — The New King James Version (NKJV)
2 Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead,
More than the living who are still alive.
3 Yet, better than both is he who has never existed,
Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 4:2–3 — New Century Version (NCV)
2 I decided that the dead
are better off than the living.
3 But those who have never been born
are better off still;
they have not seen the evil
that is done here on earth.
Ecclesiastes 4:2–3 — American Standard Version (ASV)
2 Wherefore I praised the dead that have been long dead more than the living that are yet alive; 3 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.
Ecclesiastes 4:2–3 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)
2 Then I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive; 3 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.
Ecclesiastes 4:2–3 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
2 I congratulate the dead, who have already died, rather than the living, who still have to carry on. 3 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.
Ecclesiastes 4:2–3 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
2 So I admired the dead, who have already died, more than the living, who are still alive. 3 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.
Ecclesiastes 4:2–3 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
2 And I thought the dead, who have already died, more fortunate than the living, who are still alive; 3 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.
Ecclesiastes 4:2–3 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)
2 So I deemed the dead who have already died
more fortunate than the living who are still alive.
3 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.
Ecclesiastes 4:2–3 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)
2 Then I announced that those
who have already died
are happier than those
who are still alive.
3 But someone who hasn’t been born yet
is better off than the dead or the living.
That’s because he hasn’t seen the evil things
that are done on earth.
Ecclesiastes 4:2–3 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)
2 So I congratulated the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still living.
3 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.