Ecclesiastes 4:1-3 in English

¹ Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and, behold, 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 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.

¹ So I returned, and saw all the oppressions that were done under the sun: and behold the tear of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of them that oppressed them was power; but they had no comforter:

² and I praised all the dead that had already died more than the living, as many as are alive until now.

³ 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.

¹ So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold 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 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.

¹ So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold 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 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.

¹ So I returned, and saw all the oppressions that were done under the sun: and behold the tear of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of them that oppressed them was power; but they had no comforter:

² and I praised all the dead that had already died more than the living, as many as are alive until now.

³ 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.

¹ Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, 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 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive;

³ 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.

¹ I thought some more about all the suffering that people are caused to experience on the earth MTY. I saw the tears of people who were ◄oppressed/treated cruelly► and who had no one to comfort/encourage them. Those who oppressed them had power, and there was absolutely no one who was able to comfort those who were being oppressed.

² So I thought that those who are already dead are more fortunate than those who are still alive.

³ And those who have not been born yet are more fortunate than those who are still alive and those who have died, because those who have not been born have not seen all the evil things that are done on the earth.

¹ So I returned, and saw all the oppressions that were done under the sun: and behold the tear of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of them that oppressed them was power; but they had no comforter:

² and I praised all the dead that had already died more than the living, as many as are alive until now.

³ 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.

¹ Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who 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 who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.

³ 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.

¹ Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who 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 who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.

³ 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.

¹ Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who 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 who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.

³ 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.

¹ And again I saw all the cruel things which are done under the sun; there was the weeping of those who have evil done to them, and they had no comforter: and from the hands of the evil-doers there went out power, but they had no comforter.

² So my praise was for the dead who have gone to their death, more than for the living who still have life.

³ 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.

¹ And I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors was power, and they had no comforter.

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.

¹ I turned myself to other things, and I saw the oppressions that are done under the sun, and the tears of the innocent, and they had no comforter; and they were not able to resist their violence, being destitute of help from any.

² And I praised the dead rather than the living:

³ And I judged him happier than them both, that is not yet born, nor hath seen the evils that are done under the sun.

¹ Then I turned to consider all the ways people oppress others here on earth. Look at the tears of the oppressed—there's no one to comfort them! Powerful people oppress them, and there's no one to comfort them!

² I congratulated those who were already dead, for the dead are better off than those who are still alive and being oppressed.

³ But best of all are those who have never existed—they haven't seen the evil things people do to each other here on earth.

¹ So I turned and considered all the oppressions that are wrought vnder the sunne, and beholde the teares of the oppressed, and none comforteth them: and lo, the strength is of the hand of them that oppresse them, and none comforteth them.

² Wherefore I praysed the dead which now are dead, aboue the liuing, which are yet aliue.

³ 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.

¹ But I returned and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun; and behold 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 Wherefore I praised the dead that are already dead more than the living that are yet alive;

³ 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.

¹ So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, 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 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.

¹ And I turned about, and beheld all the oppressed that are made so under the sun: and, behold, there are the tears of the oppressed, and they have no comforter; and from the hand of their oppressors they suffer violence; and they have no comforter.

² Thereupon praised I the dead that are already dead, more than the living who are still alive;

³ And as happier than both of them, him who hath not yet come into being, who hath not seen the evil-doing that is done under the sun.—

¹ So I returned, And saw all the oppressions That were done under the sun: And behold the tear of the oppressed, And they had no comforter; And on the side of them that oppressed them was power; But they had no comforter:

² And I praised all the dead that had already died More than the living, As many as are alive until now.

³ 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.

¹ Then I turned and saw all the oppressions which take place under the sun; and, behold, there were the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and from the hand of their oppressors there was violence, and they had no comforter.

² Therefore I praised the dead, who have been long ago dead, more than the living, who are yet alive.

³ Yea, better than both of them is he who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work which is done under the sun.

¹ Once again I thought about all the oppression that is done under the sun. And behold, the tears of oppressed people, and they had no one to comfort them! Power was in the hand of their oppressors, and there was no one to comfort them!

² So I considered those who are already dead more fortunate than the living, who are still alive.

³ However, more fortunate than both of them is the one who has not yet lived, the one who has not seen any of the evil acts that are done under the sun.

¹ Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who 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 who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.

³ 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.

¹ Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who 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 who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.

³ 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.

¹ So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold 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 Wherefore I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive.

³ 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.

¹ Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who 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 who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.

³ 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.

¹ Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who 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 who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.

³ 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.

¹ I turned me to other things, and I saw false challenges, that be done under the sun, and the tears of the guiltless, and no man a comforter; and that they destitute, either forsaken, of the help of all men, may not against-stand the violence of them.

² And I praised more dead men than living men;

³ and I deemed him, that was not born yet, and saw not the evils that be done under the sun, to be more blessed than ever either.

¹ I turned me to other things, and I saw false challenges, that be done under the sun, (or and I saw much oppression, that is done under the sun), and the tears of the guiltless, and (that) no man (was a) comforter; and that they destitute, either forsaken, of the help of all men, may not against-stand the violence of them.

² And I praised more dead men than living men; (And I praised the dead more than the living;)

³ and I deemed him, that was not born yet, and saw not the evils that be done under the sun, to be more blessed than ever either. (and I judged him, who was not yet born, and saw not the evils that be done under the sun, to be more blessed than either the living or the dead.)

¹ And I have turned, and I see all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and lo, the tear of the oppressed, and they have no comforter; and at the hand of their oppressors is power, and they have no comforter.

² And I am praising the dead who have already died above the living who are yet alive.

³ 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.