Ecclesiastes 4:2-8
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 4
2So I congratulated the dead who are already dead, more than the living who are still living. 3But 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.
4I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a person and his neighbor. This too is futility and striving after wind.
5The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.
6One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.
7Then I looked again at futility under the sun.
8There was a man without a dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches, and he never asked, 'And for whom do I labor and deprive myself of pleasure?' This too is futility, and it is an unhappy task.
King James Version
Chapter 4
2Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. 3Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4Again, 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.
5The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
6Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
7Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
8There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 4
2So I commended the dead, who have already died, more than the living, who are still alive. 3But 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.
5The fool folds his arms and consumes his own flesh.
6Better one handful with rest than two handfuls with effort and a pursuit of the wind.
7Again, I saw futility under the sun:
8There is a person without a companion, without even a son or brother, and though there is no end to all his struggles, his eyes are still not content with riches. "Who am I struggling for," he asks, "and depriving myself of good things? " This too is futile and a miserable task.
New Living Translation
Chapter 4
2So I concluded that the dead are better off than the living. 3But 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.
7I observed yet another example of something meaningless under the sun.
8This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself, 'Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?' It is all so meaningless and depressing.
English Standard Version
New International Version
Chapter 4
2And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive. 3But better than both is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.New King James Version