4:2 So I considered 1 those who are dead and gone 2
more fortunate than those who are still alive. 3
4:3 But better than both is the one who has not been born 4
and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth. 5
1 tn The verb שָׁבַח (shavakh) has a two-fold range of meaning: (1) “to praise; to laud”; and (2) “to congratulate” (HALOT 1387 s.v. I שׁבח; BDB 986 s.v. II שָׁבַח). The LXX translated it as ἐπῄνεσα (ephnesa, “I praised”). The English versions reflect the range of possible meanings: “praised” (KJV, ASV, Douay); “congratulated” (MLB, NASB); “declared/judged/accounted/thought…fortunate/happy” (NJPS, NEB, NIV, RSV, NRSV, NAB).
2 tn Heb “the dead who had already died.”
3 tn Heb “the living who are alive.”
4 tn The word “born” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.
5 tn Heb “under the sun.”