Ecclesiastes 4:2 Parallel Translations

NASB:

GWT:

I congratulate the dead, who have already died, rather than the living, who still have to carry on.(GOD'S WORD®)

KJV:

Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.

ASV:

Wherefore I praised the dead that have been long dead more than the living that are yet alive;

BBE:

So my praise was for the dead who have gone to their death, more than for the living who still have life.

DBY:

Then I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive;

ERV:

Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive;

JPS:

Wherefore I praised the dead that are already dead more than the living that are yet alive;

WBS:

Wherefore I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive.

WEB:

Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.

YLT:

And I am praising the dead who have already died above the living who are yet alive.

Ecclesiastes 4:2 Cross References

XREF:

Job 3:11 "Why did I not die at birth, Come forth from the womb and expire?

Ecclesiastes 2:17 So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was grievous to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 7:1 A good name is better than a good ointment, And the day of one's death is better than the day of one's birth. (NASB ©1995)

Commentaries and Concordances

GSB:

4:2 Wherefore I praised the {b} dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive.
(b) Because they are no longer subject to these oppressions.

WES:

4:2 I praised - I judged them less miserable. For this is certain, that setting aside the future life, which Solomon doth not meddle with in the present debate; and considering the uncertainty, and vanity, and manifold calamities of the present life, a wise man would not account it worth his while to live.

MHC:

4:1-3 It grieved Solomon to see might prevail against right. Wherever we turn, we see melancholy proofs of the wickedness and misery of mankind, who try to create trouble to themselves and to each other. Being thus hardly used, men are tempted to hate and despise life. But a good man, though badly off while in this world, cannot have cause to wish he had never been born, since he is glorifying the Lord, even in the fires, and will be happy at last, for ever happy. Ungodly men have most cause to wish the continuance of life with all its vexations, as a far more miserable condition awaits them if they die in their sins. If human and worldly things were our chief good, not to exist would be preferable to life, considering the various oppressions here below.

CONC:

Alive Already Congratulated Dead Death Died Fortunate Happier Praise Praised Praising Wherefore Yet

Alive Already Congratulated Dead Death Declared Died Fortunate Happier Life Praise Praised Praising Thought Wherefore

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GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved.

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