Ecclesiastes 4:3 — Compare All Translations

English (YLT) 1898 Young's Literal Translation by Robert Young

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.

English ASV

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.

English Amplified

But better than them both [I thought] is he who has not yet been born, who has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

But better than them both [I thought] is he who has not yet been born, who has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.

English CSB 2017 - 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.

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

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.

English EASY 2024

But people who have not yet been born are even happier! They have not seen the evil things that happen on the earth.

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

And it is even better for those who die at birth, because they never saw the evil that is done in this world.

But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

English GNT (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.

English God's Word - GW 1995

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.

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

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.

English KJV 1611

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.

English LSB

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.

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

But better than both is the one who has not been, who will not observe the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - 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.

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

And better off than both is the yet unborn, who has not seen the wicked work that is done under the sun.

English NET Bible - 2005 (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.

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

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.

English NIV

But better than both is he who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.

English NKJ 1982

Yet, better than both is he who has never existed, Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

English NLT

And most fortunate of all are those who were never born. For they have never seen all the evil that is done in our world.

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

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.

English RSV (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.

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

And most fortunate of all are those who have never been born and have never seen all the evil and crime throughout the earth.

English Tyndale 1537

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.

Ecclesiastes 4:3 — Compare Translations