But 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.

并且我以为那未曾生的，就是未见过日光之下恶事的，比这两等人更强。

但那尚未出生，就是未曾见过日光之下所发生之恶事的，比这两种人更幸福。

但那尚未出生，就是未曾见过日光之下所发生之恶事的，比这两种人更幸福。

不过，比以上两种人更幸运的是那从未出生的人，他们从未见过日光之下各样的恶行。

那还没生下来的，就是还没看过日光之下所行的恶事的，比这两种人更有福。

但那还没有出生的人，比这两者更好，因他没有见过在日光之下所行的恶事。

並且我以為那未曾生的，就是未見過日光之下惡事的，比這兩等人更強。

但那尚未出生，就是未曾見過日光之下所發生之惡事的，比這兩種人更幸福。

但那尚未出生，就是未曾見過日光之下所發生之惡事的，比這兩種人更幸福。

不過，比以上兩種人更幸運的是那從未出生的人，他們從未見過日光之下各樣的惡行。

那還沒生下來的，就是還沒看過日光之下所行的惡事的，比這兩種人更有福。

我並且以為、那未曾生的、就是那未曾經驗過日光之下所發生的壞事的、比這兩種人還好。

但那還沒有出生的人，比這兩者更好，因他沒有見過在日光之下所行的惡事。

且以未生之人、未睹日下所作之惡者、較斯二者為尤愈也、○

又思未生於斯世者、未見斯人之穢行、較生而復死者、尤為幸甚。

較此二者、未生於世、未見日下所作之惡事者更為幸、○

But better than both is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.

But someone who hasn’t been born yet is better off than the dead or the living. That’s because that person hasn’t seen the evil things that are done on earth.

But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

But 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.

But 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.

Yet, better than both is he who has never existed, Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

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.

But 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.

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.

But better than both is the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth.

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.

For the days are coming when they will say,‘ Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.’

A man might have a hundred children and live to be very old. But if he finds no satisfaction in life and doesn’t even get a decent burial, it would have been better for him to be born dead.His birth would have been meaningless, and he would have ended in darkness. He wouldn’t even have had a name,and he would never have seen the sun or known of its existence. Yet he would have had more peace than in growing up to be an unhappy man.

How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days.

Curse that day for failing to shut my mother’s womb, for letting me be born to see all this trouble.“ Why wasn’t I born dead? Why didn’t I die as I came from the womb?Why was I laid on my mother’s lap? Why did she nurse me at her breasts?Had I died at birth, I would now be at peace. I would be asleep and at rest.I would rest with the world’s kings and prime ministers, whose great buildings now lie in ruins.I would rest with princes, rich in gold, whose palaces were filled with silver.Why wasn’t I buried like a stillborn child, like a baby who never lives to see the light?

They’re filled with joy when they finally die, and rejoice when they find the grave.

“‘ Why, then, did you deliver me from my mother’s womb? Why didn’t you let me die at birth?It would be as though I had never existed, going directly from the womb to the grave.

I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless— like chasing the wind.

Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest!I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness. InterludeHow quickly I would escape— far from this wild storm of hatred.Confuse them, Lord, and frustrate their plans, for I see violence and conflict in the city.Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders, but the real danger is wickedness within the city.Everything is falling apart; threats and cheating are rampant in the streets.

Oh, that I could go away and forget my people and live in a travelers’ shack in the desert. For they are all adulterers— a pack of treacherous liars.“ My people bend their tongues like bows to shoot out lies. They refuse to stand up for the truth. They only go from bad to worse. They do not know me,” says the Lord.

So I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is so troubling. Everything is meaningless— like chasing the wind.

because he did not kill me at birth. Oh, that I had died in my mother’s womb, that her body had been my grave!Why was I ever born? My entire life has been filled with trouble, sorrow, and shame.