Ecclesiastes 4:3

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

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

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Luke 23:29 : 29 For this is certain: The days are coming when they will say,‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore children, and the breasts that never nursed!’
  • Job 3:10-16 : 10 because it did not shut the doors of my mother’s womb on me, nor did it hide trouble from my eyes! 11 Job Wishes He Had Died at Birth“Why did I not die at birth, and why did I not expire as I came out of the womb? 12 Why did the knees welcome me, and why were there two breasts that I might nurse at them? 13 For now I would be lying down and would be quiet, I would be asleep and then at peace 14 with kings and counselors of the earth who built for themselves places now desolate, 15 or with princes who possessed gold, who filled their palaces with silver. 16 Or why was I not buried like a stillborn infant, like infants who have never seen the light?
  • Job 3:22 : 22 who rejoice even to jubilation, and are exultant when they find the grave?
  • Job 10:18-19 : 18 An Appeal for Relief“Why then did you bring me out from the womb? I should have died and no eye would have seen me! 19 I should have been as though I had never existed; I should have been carried right from the womb to the grave!
  • Ps 55:6-9 : 6 I say,“I wish I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and settle in a safe place! 7 Look, I will escape to a distant place; I will stay in the wilderness.(Selah) 8 I will hurry off to a place that is safe from the strong wind and the gale.” 9 Confuse them, O Lord! Frustrate their plans! For I see violence and conflict in the city. 10 Day and night they walk around on its walls, while wickedness and destruction are within it. 11 Disaster is within it; violence and deceit do not depart from its public square.
  • Eccl 1:14 : 14 I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth, and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile– like chasing the wind!
  • Eccl 2:17 : 17 So I loathed life because what happens on earth seems awful to me; for all the benefits of wisdom are futile– like chasing the wind.
  • Eccl 6:3-5 : 3 Even if a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years– even if he lives a long, long time, but cannot enjoy his prosperity– even if he were to live forever– I would say,“A stillborn child is better off than he is!” 4 Though the stillborn child came into the world for no reason and departed into darkness, though its name is shrouded in darkness, 5 though it never saw the light of day nor knew anything, yet it has more rest than that man–
  • Jer 9:2-3 : 2 (9:1) I wish I had a lodging place in the wilderness where I could spend some time like a weary traveler. Then I would desert my people and walk away from them because they are all unfaithful to God, a congregation of people that has been disloyal to him. 3 The Lord Laments That He Has No Choice But to Judge Them The LORD says,“These people are like soldiers who have readied their bows. Their tongues are always ready to shoot out lies. They have become powerful in the land, but they have not done so by honest means. Indeed, they do one evil thing after another and do not pay attention to me.
  • Jer 20:17-18 : 17 For he did not kill me before I came from the womb, making my pregnant mother’s womb my grave forever. 18 Why did I ever come forth from my mother’s womb? All I experience is trouble and grief, and I spend my days in shame.
  • Matt 24:19 : 19 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days!

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Eccl 4:2
    83%

    2So I considered those who are dead and gone more fortunate than those who are still alive.

  • Eccl 3:22
    79%

    22So I perceived there is nothing better than for people to enjoy their work, because that is their reward; for who can show them what the future holds?

  • Eccl 4:4
    78%

    4Labor Motivated by Envy Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless– like chasing the wind.

  • Eccl 6:5-6
    2 verses
    78%

    5though it never saw the light of day nor knew anything, yet it has more rest than that man–

    6if he should live a thousand years twice, yet does not enjoy his prosperity. For both of them die!

  • Eccl 4:15-16
    2 verses
    77%

    15I considered all the living who walk on earth, as well as the successor who would arise in his place.

    16There is no end to all the people nor to the past generations, yet future generations will not rejoice in him. This also is profitless and like chasing the wind.

  • Eccl 3:12
    77%

    12Enjoy Life in the Present I have concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they live,

  • Eccl 6:8-12
    5 verses
    77%

    8So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool? And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?

    9It is better to be content with what the eyes can see than for one’s heart always to crave more. This continual longing is futile– like chasing the wind.

    10The Futile Way Life Works Whatever has happened was foreordained, and what happens to a person was also foreknown. It is useless for him to argue with God about his fate because God is more powerful than he is.

    11The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes. How does that benefit him?

    12For no one knows what is best for a person during his life– during the few days of his fleeting life– for they pass away like a shadow. Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth.

  • Eccl 6:3
    77%

    3Even if a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years– even if he lives a long, long time, but cannot enjoy his prosperity– even if he were to live forever– I would say,“A stillborn child is better off than he is!”

  • Eccl 1:3
    76%

    3Futility Illustrated from Nature What benefit do people get from all the effort which they expend on earth?

  • Eccl 2:24-25
    2 verses
    76%

    24Enjoy Work and its Benefits There is nothing better for people than to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in their work. I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment comes from God.

    25For no one can eat and drink or experience joy apart from him.

  • Eccl 2:21-22
    2 verses
    76%

    21For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; however, he must hand over the fruit of his labor as an inheritance to someone else who did not work for it. This also is futile, and an awful injustice!

    22Painful Days and Restless Nights What does a man acquire from all his labor and from the anxiety that accompanies his toil on earth?

  • Eccl 4:6-9
    4 verses
    75%

    6Better is one handful with some rest than two hands full of toil and chasing the wind.

    7Labor Motivated by Greed So I again considered another futile thing on earth:

    8A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments,“For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is futile and a burdensome task!

    9Labor is Beneficial When Its Rewards Are Shared Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor.

  • Eccl 1:9-10
    2 verses
    75%

    9What exists now is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing truly new on earth.

    10Is there anything about which someone can say,“Look at this! It is new!”? It was already done long ago, before our time.

  • Eccl 2:11-13
    3 verses
    75%

    11Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded:“All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless– like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth.”

    12Wisdom is Better than Folly Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas. For what more can the king’s successor do than what the king has already done?

    13I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, just as light is preferable to darkness:

  • Eccl 2:16-19
    4 verses
    75%

    16For the wise man, like the fool, will not be remembered for very long, because in the days to come, both will already have been forgotten. Alas, the wise man dies– just like the fool!

    17So I loathed life because what happens on earth seems awful to me; for all the benefits of wisdom are futile– like chasing the wind.

    18Futility of Being a Workaholic So I loathed all the fruit of my effort, for which I worked so hard on earth, because I must leave it behind in the hands of my successor.

    19Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will be master over all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so wisely on earth! This also is futile!

  • Eccl 1:14
    75%

    14I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth, and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile– like chasing the wind!

  • Eccl 7:2
    75%

    2It is better to go to a funeral than a feast. For death is the destiny of every person, and the living should take this to heart.

  • Eccl 3:15
    74%

    15Whatever exists now has already been, and whatever will be has already been; for God will seek to do again what has occurred in the past.

  • Eccl 9:3-4
    2 verses
    74%

    3This is the unfortunate fact about everything that happens on earth: the same fate awaits everyone. In addition to this, the hearts of all people are full of evil, and there is folly in their hearts during their lives– then they die.

    4Better to Be Poor but Alive than Rich but Dead But whoever is among the living has hope; a live dog is better than a dead lion.

  • Eccl 8:17
    74%

    17then I discerned all that God has done: No one really comprehends what happens on earth. Despite all human efforts to discover it, no one can ever grasp it. Even if a wise person claimed that he understood, he would not really comprehend it.

  • Eccl 8:9-10
    2 verses
    74%

    9While applying my mind to everything that happens in this world, I have seen all this: Sometimes one person dominates other people to their harm.

    10Contradictions to the Law of Retribution Not only that, but I have seen the wicked approaching and entering the temple, and as they left the holy temple, they boasted in the city that they had done so. This also is an enigma.

  • Eccl 6:1
    74%

    1Not Everyone Enjoys Life Here is another misfortune that I have seen on earth, and it weighs heavily on people:

  • Eccl 11:8
    74%

    8So, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all, but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many– all that is about to come is obscure.

  • Eccl 3:9-10
    2 verses
    74%

    9Man is Ignorant of God’s Timing What benefit can a worker gain from his toil?

    10I have observed the burden that God has given to people to keep them occupied.

  • Eccl 7:14-15
    2 verses
    73%

    14In times of prosperity be joyful, but in times of adversity consider this: God has made one as well as the other, so that no one can discover what the future holds.

    15Exceptions to the Law of Retribution During the days of my fleeting life I have seen both of these things: Sometimes a righteous person dies prematurely in spite of his righteousness, and sometimes a wicked person lives long in spite of his evil deeds.

  • Eccl 8:14-15
    2 verses
    73%

    14Here is another enigma that occurs on earth: Sometimes there are righteous people who get what the wicked deserve, and sometimes there are wicked people who get what the righteous deserve. I said,“This also is an enigma.”

    15Enjoy Life In Spite of Its Injustices So I recommend the enjoyment of life, for there is nothing better on earth for a person to do except to eat, drink, and enjoy life. So joy will accompany him in his toil during the days of his life which God gives him on earth.

  • Eccl 4:13
    73%

    13Labor Motivated by Prestige-Seeking A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive advice.

  • Eccl 9:13
    73%

    13Most People Are Not Receptive to Wise Counsel This is what I also observed about wisdom on earth, and it is a great burden to me: