Ecclesiastes 4:2

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

And I praised the dead who had already died, more than the living who are still alive.

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Other Translations

Referenced Verses

  • Eccl 2:17 : 17 So I hated life, because the work done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
  • Eccl 9:4-6 : 4 Anyone who is among the living has hope—even a live dog is better than a dead lion! 5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even their memory is forgotten. 6 Their love, their hatred, and their envy have already vanished, and they will never again have a part in anything that happens under the sun.
  • Job 3:11-26 : 11 Why did I not die at birth, come out from the womb and expire? 12 Why were there knees to receive me, or breasts that I should nurse? 13 For now I would have lain down and been quiet; I would have slept, then I would be at rest. 14 With kings and counselors of the earth who built ruins for themselves. 15 Or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver. 16 Or why was I not like a stillborn child, like infants who never saw the light? 17 There the wicked cease from turmoil, and there the weary are at rest. 18 Together the prisoners are at ease; they hear not the voice of the oppressor. 19 The small and the great are there, and the servant is free from his masters. 20 Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter in soul? 21 To those who long for death, but it does not come, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures. 22 Who rejoice exceedingly and are glad when they find the grave. 23 To a man whose path is hidden, and whom God has hedged in? 24 For my sighing comes before my food, and my groanings pour out like water. 25 For the thing I dread comes upon me, and what I fear befalls me. 26 I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, but turmoil comes.

Similar Verses (AI)

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

  • Eccl 4:3-4
    2 verses
    83%

    3But better than both is the one who has not yet been born, who has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

    4And I saw that all toil and all skill in work are driven by one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

  • Eccl 9:3-6
    4 verses
    77%

    3This is the distressing thing about everything that happens under the sun: the same fate befalls all. Moreover, the hearts of humans are full of evil, and madness resides in their hearts during their lives; and after that, they join the dead.

    4Anyone who is among the living has hope—even a live dog is better than a dead lion!

    5For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even their memory is forgotten.

    6Their love, their hatred, and their envy have already vanished, and they will never again have a part in anything that happens under the sun.

  • Eccl 4:15-16
    2 verses
    75%

    15I saw all the living who walk under the sun following the youth, the second one, who replaces him.

    16There is no end to all the people who were before them, yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

  • Ps 115:17
    75%

    17The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any who go down into silence.

  • Eccl 2:15-18
    4 verses
    75%

    15Then I said in my heart, 'What happens to the fool will also happen to me. So why have I been so very wise?' And I concluded in my heart, 'This too is meaningless.'

    16For the wise, like the fool, will not be remembered forever; in the days to come, everything will be forgotten. How does the wise person die? Just like the fool!

    17So I hated life, because the work done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

    18I hated all my toil under the sun because I must leave it to the one who comes after me.

  • Eccl 8:10
    74%

    10Then I saw the wicked buried, who used to go in and out of the holy place, but now they are forgotten in the city where they acted this way. This too is meaningless.

  • Eccl 4:1
    73%

    1Again I looked and saw all the oppression that is done under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter. Power was on the side of their oppressors, and they had no comforter.

  • Eccl 7:2
    73%

    2It is better to go to a house of mourning than to a house of feasting, because death is the destination of everyone, and the living should take it to heart.

  • Job 3:21-22
    2 verses
    72%

    21To those who long for death, but it does not come, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures.

    22Who rejoice exceedingly and are glad when they find the grave.

  • Eccl 3:22
    72%

    22So I saw that there is nothing better than for a person to rejoice in their work, for that is their lot. Who can bring them to see what will happen after them?

  • Isa 38:18-19
    2 verses
    71%

    18For Sheol cannot thank You, death cannot praise You. Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.

    19The living, the living—they thank You, as I do today. Fathers make Your faithfulness known to their children.

  • Eccl 4:7
    71%

    7Again, I turned and saw meaninglessness under the sun.

  • Eccl 2:11-12
    2 verses
    71%

    11Yet when I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, behold, everything was meaningless—a chasing after the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun.

    12So I turned my attention to consider wisdom, madness, and folly. For what can anyone do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done.

  • Ps 49:18
    71%

    18For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his glory will not follow him down.

  • Eccl 6:5-6
    2 verses
    71%

    5Though it has never seen the sun or known anything, it has more rest than that man.

    6Even if someone lives a thousand years twice over but does not enjoy their prosperity, do not all go to the same place?

  • Eccl 2:24-25
    2 verses
    71%

    24There is nothing better for a person than to eat and drink and find enjoyment in their work. This too, I realized, is from the hand of God.

    25For who can eat or who can enjoy life apart from Him?

  • Eccl 3:15
    71%

    15Whatever has already been, and what will be has already been; and God seeks what has been pursued.

  • Eccl 11:8
    71%

    8For if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in all of them, but let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. All that comes is meaningless.

  • Eccl 8:14-15
    2 verses
    70%

    14There is a futility that takes place on the earth: righteous people receive what the wicked deserve, and wicked people receive what the righteous deserve. I said, 'This too is vanity.'

    15So I praised enjoyment, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat, drink, and be glad. This will accompany them in their toil through the days of life that God has given them under the sun.

  • Ps 6:5
    70%

    5Return, LORD! Rescue my soul; save me because of Your steadfast love.

  • Eccl 3:12
    70%

    12I know that there is nothing better for people than to rejoice and to do good while they live.

  • Eccl 6:8
    70%

    8What advantage has the wise person over the fool? What does the poor person gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before the living?

  • Eccl 1:9-11
    3 verses
    70%

    9What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.

    10Is there anything of which one can say, 'Look! This is something new'? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time.

    11No one remembers the former generations, and even those yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow them.

  • Eccl 2:20
    70%

    20So I turned my heart to despair over all the hard work with which I had labored under the sun.

  • 1 Pet 4:6
    70%

    6For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they may be judged according to human standards in the body but live according to God in the spirit.

  • Eccl 1:2
    70%

    2“Utterly meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”

  • Eccl 9:10
    70%

    10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

  • Eccl 12:8
    70%

    8'Utter futility,' says the Teacher. 'Everything is futile!'

  • Eccl 6:3
    69%

    3A man may father a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy life's good things and receives no proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.

  • Lam 3:6
    69%

    6He has made me dwell in dark places, like those long dead.

  • Ps 146:2
    69%

    2I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have being.

  • Eccl 6:11
    69%

    11The more words, the more meaningless—and what advantage does that bring to anyone?

  • Eccl 1:14
    69%

    14I have seen all the deeds that are done under the sun; they are all meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

  • Eccl 3:19
    69%

    19For the fate of humans and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; they all have the same breath, and humans have no advantage over animals, for everything is meaningless.