Ecclesiastes 4:2-3
Ecclesiastes 4:1-3 The Message (MSG)
Next I turned my attention to all the outrageous violence that takes place on this planet—the tears of the victims, no one to comfort them; the iron grip of oppressors, no one to rescue the victims from them. So I congratulated the dead who are already dead instead of the living who are still alive. But luckier than the dead or the living is the person who has never even been, who has never seen the bad business that takes place on this earth.
Ecclesiastes 4:2-3 King James Version (KJV)
Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. 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 American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
So I congratulated the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still living. 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.
Ecclesiastes 4:2-3 New Century Version (NCV)
I decided that the dead are better off than the living. 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)
Wherefore I praised the dead that have been long dead more than the living that are yet alive; 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 New International Version (NIV)
And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive. 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 New King James Version (NKJV)
Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead, More than the living who are still alive. 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 Amplified Bible (AMP)
So I congratulated and thought more fortunate are those who are already dead than the living who are still living. 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.