Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive. New Living Translation So I concluded that the dead are better off than the living. English Standard Version And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. Berean Standard Bible So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive. King James Bible Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. New King James Version Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead, More than the living who are still alive. New American Standard Bible So I congratulated the dead who are already dead, more than the living who are still living. NASB 1995 So I congratulated the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still living. NASB 1977 So I congratulated the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still living. Legacy Standard Bible So I lauded the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still living. Amplified Bible So I congratulated and thought more fortunate are those who are already dead than the living who are still living. Christian Standard Bible So I commended the dead, who have already died, more than the living, who are still alive. Holman Christian Standard Bible So I admired the dead, who have already died, more than the living, who are still alive. American Standard Version Wherefore I praised the dead that have been long dead more than the living that are yet alive; Contemporary English Version I said to myself, "The dead are better off than the living. English Revised Version Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive; GOD'S WORD® Translation I congratulate the dead, who have already died, rather than the living, who still have to carry on. Good News Translation I envy those who are dead and gone; they are better off than those who are still alive. International Standard Version So I commended the dead who had already died as being happier than the living who are still alive. Majority Standard Bible So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive. NET Bible So I considered those who are dead and gone more fortunate than those who are still alive. New Heart English Bible Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive. Webster's Bible Translation Wherefore I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive. World English Bible Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd I am praising the dead who have already died above the living who are yet alive. Young's Literal Translation And I am praising the dead who have already died above the living who are yet alive. Smith's Literal Translation And I praise the dead already dead more than the living they yet living. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd I praised the dead rather than the living: Catholic Public Domain Version And so, I praised the dead more than the living. New American Bible And those now dead, I declared more fortunate in death than are the living to be still alive. New Revised Standard Version And I thought the dead, who have already died, more fortunate than the living, who are still alive; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleWherefore I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still alive. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And I praised the dead who have died long ago, more than the living, those who are alive now OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Wherefore I praised the dead that are already dead more than the living that are yet alive; Brenton Septuagint Translation and I praised all the dead that had already died more than the living, as many as are alive until now. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Evil of Oppression1Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter. 2So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive. 3But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.… Cross References Job 3:11-13 Why did I not perish at birth; why did I not die as I came from the womb? / Why were there knees to receive me, and breasts that I should be nursed? / For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest Philippians 1:21-23 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. / But if I go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. So what shall I choose? I do not know. / I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed. Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven telling me to write, “Blessed are the dead—those who die in the Lord from this moment on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labors, for their deeds will follow them.” Job 14:13-14 If only You would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until Your anger has passed! If only You would appoint a time for me and then remember me! / When a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, until my renewal comes. Isaiah 57:1-2 The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one considers that the righteous are taken away from the presence of evil. / Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest, lying down in death. 2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. / For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. Job 7:15-16 so that I would prefer strangling and death over my life in this body. / I loathe my life! I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath. Luke 23:43 And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints. 1 Kings 19:4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” Romans 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. / I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. / From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing. Jeremiah 20:14-18 Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me never be blessed. / Cursed be the man who brought my father the news, saying, “A son is born to you,” bringing him great joy. / May that man be like the cities that the LORD overthrew without compassion. May he hear an outcry in the morning and a battle cry at noon, ... Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Treasury of Scripture Why I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. Ecclesiastes 2:17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Ecclesiastes 9:4-6 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion… Job 3:17-21 There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest… Jump to Previous Alive Already Congratulated Dead Death Declared Died Fortunate Happier Life Praise Praised Praising Thought WhereforeJump to Next Alive Already Congratulated Dead Death Declared Died Fortunate Happier Life Praise Praised Praising Thought WhereforeEcclesiastes 4 1. vanity is increased unto men by oppression4. by envy 5. by idleness 7. by covetousness 9. by solitariness 13. by willfulness So I admired the dead, who had already died This phrase reflects the deep sense of despair and futility that the author, traditionally believed to be Solomon, experiences. In the context of Ecclesiastes, Solomon is exploring the meaning of life under the sun, often finding it to be vanity. The admiration for the dead can be seen as an expression of relief from the burdens and injustices of life. In the ancient Near Eastern context, death was often viewed as a release from the struggles and toils of earthly existence. This sentiment is echoed in Job 3:11-19, where Job laments his birth and wishes for the peace of death. Theologically, this reflects the fallen state of the world post-Genesis 3, where sin introduced suffering and death. The phrase also foreshadows the Christian hope of eternal rest and peace in Christ, as seen in Revelation 14:13, where the dead in the Lord are blessed and find rest from their labors. above the living, who are still alive Persons / Places / Events 1. SolomonTraditionally considered the author of Ecclesiastes, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. Ecclesiastes is part of the wisdom literature in the Bible, reflecting on the meaning of life and human endeavors. 2. The Oppressed In Ecclesiastes 4:2, the oppressed are those who suffer under the weight of injustice and cruelty in the world. They are central to the verse's reflection on the harsh realities of life. 3. The Dead The verse contrasts the living with the dead, suggesting that those who have already died are in a better state than those who are alive and suffering. Teaching Points The Reality of OppressionEcclesiastes 4:2 highlights the harsh reality of oppression in the world. As Christians, we are called to be aware of and respond to the suffering around us, advocating for justice and mercy. The Value of Life and Death While the verse suggests that the dead are better off, it challenges us to consider the value of life and the hope we have in Christ. Life, despite its struggles, is an opportunity to serve God and others. Eternal Perspective This verse encourages believers to maintain an eternal perspective. While life on earth can be filled with suffering, our ultimate hope and joy are found in eternity with God. Compassion and Action Recognizing the plight of the oppressed should move us to compassion and action. We are called to be the hands and feet of Christ, bringing relief and hope to those in need.(2) I praised the dead.--Job 3:11; Exodus 32:32; 1Kings 19:4; Jeremiah 20:14; Jonah 4:3. The word which is translated "yet" in this verse belongs to later Hebrew, and does not occur elsewhere in the Old Testament,Verse 2. - In view of these patent wrongs Koheleth loses all enjoyment of life. Wherefore (and) I praised the dead which are already dead; or, who died long ago, and thus have escaped the miseries which they would have had to endure. It must, indeed, have been a bitter experience which elicited such an avowal. To die and be forgotten an Oriental would look upon as the most calamitous of destinies. More than the living which are yet alive. For these have before them the prospect of a long endurance of oppression and suffering (comp. Ecclesiastes 7:1; Job 3:13, etc.). The Greek gnome says - Κρεῖσσον τὸ μὴ ζῇν ἐστὶν η} ζῇν ἀθλίως "Better to die than lead a wretched life." The Septuagint version is scarcely a rendering of our present text: "Above the living, as many as are living until now." Hebrew So Iאֲנִ֛י (’ă·nî) Pronoun - first person common singular Strong's 589: I admired וְשַׁבֵּ֧חַ (wə·šab·bê·aḥ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute Strong's 7623: To address in a, loud tone, loud, to pacify the dead, הַמֵּתִ֖ים (ham·mê·ṯîm) Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 4191: To die, to kill who had already שֶׁכְּבָ֣ר (šek·kə·ḇār) Pronoun - relative | Adverb Strong's 3528: Extent of time, a great while, long ago, formerly, hitherto died, מֵ֑תוּ (mê·ṯū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 4191: To die, to kill above מִן־ (min-) Preposition Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of the living, הַ֣חַיִּ֔ים (ha·ḥay·yîm) Article | Adjective - masculine plural Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life who אֲשֶׁ֛ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that are still עֲדֶֽנָה׃ (‘ă·ḏe·nāh) Adverb | third person feminine singular Strong's 5728: Hitherto, still alive. חַיִּ֖ים (ḥay·yîm) Adjective - masculine plural Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life Links Ecclesiastes 4:2 NIVEcclesiastes 4:2 NLT Ecclesiastes 4:2 ESV Ecclesiastes 4:2 NASB Ecclesiastes 4:2 KJV Ecclesiastes 4:2 BibleApps.com Ecclesiastes 4:2 Biblia Paralela Ecclesiastes 4:2 Chinese Bible Ecclesiastes 4:2 French Bible Ecclesiastes 4:2 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 4:2 Therefore I praised the dead who have (Ecclesiast. 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