Verse 1 presented Qoheleth’s observation, and verse 2 issued a temporary conclusion; but in verse 3 we now are given Qoheleth’s own and final conclusion with respect to the problem in verse 1.

Although death may be the only escape from oppression and to that extent may be preferable to life under those circumstances, Qoheleth now takes the matter further. His suggestion is that not to be born is an even better alternative to death. To express this idea he uses a “better” saying, the first of many in this book.

But better than both …: the “better” sayings are a special literary feature of this book, which contains almost half of all Old Testament examples of this form. In many cases it serves to conclude a section, summarizing Qoheleth’s thought on the subject treated in that section. Although it is a comparative expression in form, its meaning is usually best regarded as superlative; that is to say, it suggests what is best, not what is simply relatively good.

In verse 2 Qoheleth compared people who had died with those who were still living under oppression. He now adds a third possibility, and so the translation can use a form similar to Good News Translation, “even better off,” or “even more fortunate than….” Revised Standard Version better than can be misunderstood as making some kind of moral judgment. Comparison of people facing an oppressive world suggests that “fortunate,” “happier,” or even “luckier,” are good terms to replace RSV’s very general term better.

In dealing with these comparative and superlative forms, translators will need to use forms appropriate to their own languages. Some may need to use expressions like “the dead are fortunate, but the truly fortunate ones are….”

Both (literally “the two of them”) refers to the two kinds of persons mentioned in verse 2. If necessary this fact can be expressed clearly, citing “the dead and those living under oppression.”

He who has not yet been refers to persons who have not yet come into existence, so we can use the verb “born” to clarify its sense. The Revised Standard Version singular form follows the Hebrew, while Good News Translation uses the plural. Both are attempts to express something very general, so the pronoun “anyone” or “everyone” is acceptable. To express the idea of “not yet been,” an expression like “those not yet living,” or even “those who have not yet come into this world,” can be used. Qoheleth suggests in this conclusion that the unborn are more fortunate than the dead or the living, and his reasons for thinking this way follow.

And has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun: this is a clause justifying Qoheleth’s evaluation. The unborn have not experienced human oppression themselves, nor have they had to witness it (see Revised English Bible). Both these meanings are present in the verb “seen.” Qoheleth represents the wise person; his is perhaps a privileged position, but nevertheless it is a painful one. Every wise person had the responsibility to reflect on human existence, and then to advise people how they might best live in light of life’s many problems. This role of the wise is almost as painful as that of the person who is being oppressed.

Evil deeds that are done can be expressed by “evil that takes place” or “evil events that occur.” However, here again is a passive verb whose agent or subject may need to be identified: “who has not seen the evil things that people do [to each other] on this earth.” Though a more general term is used here, the context of this discussion indicates that evil refers primarily to oppression.

Under the sun: see comments on 1.3.

In some languages turning the verse around will give a smoother sentence:

• But the person who has not yet been born, who has not seen what evil things people do to each other in this world, is even better off than these two.

Other possible translations include:

• More fortunate than either the dead or those still living under oppression are the unborn. They have not witnessed the evil done on earth.

• But those who have not yet been born are even luckier than these two. They have not seen the evil people do to one another in this world.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Zogbo, Lynell. A Handbook on the Book of Ecclesiates. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .