Ecclesiastes 4:2-3

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 

[4:2]  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).

[4:2]  ² tn Heb “the dead who had already died.”

[4:2]  ³ tn Heb “the living who are alive.”

[4:3]  ⁴ tn The word “born” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.

[4:3]  ⁵ tn Heb “under the sun.”