Pengkhotbah 4:3

4:3 But better than both is the one who has not been born ¹ 

and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth. ² 

Pengkhotbah 8:13

8:13 But it will not go well with the wicked,

nor will they ³  prolong their ⁴  days like a shadow, ⁵ 

because they ⁶  do not stand in fear ⁷  before God.

[4:3]  ¹ tn The word “born” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.

[4:3]  ² tn Heb “under the sun.”

[8:13]  ³ tn Heb “he.”

[8:13]  ⁴ tn The word “their” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for smoothness.

[8:13]  ⁵ tn The phrase “like a shadow” (כַּצֵּל, katsel) modifies the verb (“prolong”) rather than the noun (“days”). Several English versions misconstrue the line: “he will not prolong his days, [which are] like a shadow” (KJV, ASV); “the man who does not fear God is like a shadow” (NEB); and “he will not prolong his shadowy days” (NAB). It should be rendered “he will not prolong his days like a shadow” (RSV, NRSV, NASB, MLB, NIV). Unlike a shadow that lengthens at sunset, the wicked do not normally live long.

[8:13]  ⁶ tn Heb “he.”

[8:13]  ⁷ tn Heb “they do not fear.”