Ecclesiastes 4:2-4 in English

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.

⁴ Then I saw all labor and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

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.

⁴ And I saw all labour, and all the diligent work, that this is a man's envy from his neighbour. This is also vanity and waywardness of spirit.

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.

⁴ Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

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.

⁴ Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

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.

⁴ And I saw all labor, and all the diligent work, that this is a man's envy from his neighbor. This is also vanity and waywardness of spirit.

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.

⁴ Then I saw all labour and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

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.

⁴ I also thought about all the hard work that people do and the skills that they have. And I thought about how they compete with each other because they are envious of others, and I concluded that this also is something that is not accomplishing anything useful, like chasing the wind.

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.

⁴ And I saw all labour, and all the diligent work, that this is a man's envy from his neighbour. This is also vanity and waywardness of spirit.

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.

⁴ Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

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.

⁴ Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

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.

⁴ Then I saw all the labour and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

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.

⁴ And I saw that the cause of all the work and of everything which is done well was man's envy of his neighbour. This again is to no purpose and a desire for wind.

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.

⁴ And I saw all labour, and all success of work, that it is man's jealousy of his neighbour. This also is vanity and pursuit of the wind.

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.

⁴ Again I considered all the labours of men, and I remarked that their industries are exposed to the envy of their neighhour: so in this also there is vanity, and fruitless care.

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.

⁴ I observed that every skill in work comes from competition with others. Once again this is hard to understand, like trying to hold on to the elusive wind.

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.

⁴ Also I beheld all trauaile, and all perfection of workes that this is ye enuie of a man against his neighbour: this also is vanitie and vexation of spirit.

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.

⁴ Again, I considered all labour and all excelling in work, that it is a man's rivalry with his neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

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.

⁴ Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

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.—

⁴ Again, I beheld all the toil, and all the energy in doing, that it is from the envy of one man of his neighbor. Also this is vanity and a torture of the spirit.

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.

⁴ And I saw all labor, And all the diligent work, That this is a man’s envy from his neighbor. This is also vanity and waywardness of spirit.

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.

⁴ And I saw all labor, and all success in work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity, and striving after wind.

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.

⁴ Then I saw that every act of labor and every skillful work became the envy of one's neighbor. This also is vapor and an attempt to shepherd the wind.

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.

⁴ Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

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.

⁴ Then I saw all the labour and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

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.

⁴ Again, I considered all labor, and every right work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

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.

⁴ Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

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.

⁴ Then I saw all the labour and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

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.

⁴ Again I beheld all the travails of men, and busynesses; and I perceived that those be open to the envy of the neighbour; and therefore in this is vanity, and superfluous busyness.

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.)

⁴ Again I beheld all the travails of men, and busynesses; and I perceived that those be open to the envy of the neighbour; and therefore in this is vanity, (or and so this is emptiness and futility), and superfluous busyness.

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.

⁴ And I have seen all the labour, and all the benefit of the work, because for it a man is the envy of his neighbour. Even this is vanity and vexation of spirit.