Ecclesiastes 4:2–3
Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
*Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead, more then the liuing which are yet aliue.
Original 1611 marginTranslation notes and cross-references are kept distinct.
- *Cross-referenceIob 3.17. &c.
Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
*Yea better is he then both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seene the euill worke that is done vnder the Sunne.
Original 1611 marginTranslation notes and cross-references are kept distinct.
- *Cross-referenceIob 3.11, 16,21.
Narration uses the Pure Cambridge Edition.
PASSAGE SELECTION
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8 Essential passages are open for comparison.
From verse 2
- Job 3:11–26Rank 1 from verse 2
11Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?
12Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?
13For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest,
14With kings and counsellers of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves;
15Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver:
16Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.
17There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.
18There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor.
19The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master.
20Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;
21Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;
22Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?
23Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?
24For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.
25For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
26I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.
11Why died I not from the wombe? why did I not giue vp the ghost when I came out of the bellie?
12Why did the knees preuent mee? or why the breasts, that I should sucke?
13For now should I haue lien still and beene quiet, I should haue slept; then had I bene at rest,
14With Kings and counsellers of the earth, which built desolate places for themselues,
15Or with Princes that had golde, who filled their houses with siluer:
16Or as an hidden vntimely birth, I had not bene; as infants which neuer saw light.
17There the wicked cease from troubling: and there the †wearie be at rest.
18 There the prisoners rest together, they heare not the voice of the oppressour.
19The small and great are there, and the seruant is free from his master.
20Wherefore is light giuen to him that is in misery, and life vnto the bitter in soule?
21Which †long for death, but it commeth not, and dig for it more then for hid treasures:
22Which reioice exceedingly, and are glad when they can finde the graue?
23 Why is light giuen to a man, whose way is hid, *and whom God hath hedged in?
24For my sighing commeth †before I eate, and my roarings are powred out like the waters.
25For †the thing which I greatly feared is come vpon me, and that which I was afraid of, is come vnto me.
26I was not in safetie, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet: yet trouble came.
- Ecclesiastes 2:17Rank 2 from verse 2
- Ecclesiastes 9:4–6Rank 3 from verse 2
4¶ For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
5For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
6Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.
4¶ For to him that is ioyned to all the liuing, there is hope: for a liuing dogge is better then a dead Lion.
5For the liuing know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither haue they any more a reward, for the memorie of them is forgotten.
6Also their loue, and their hatred, and their enuy is now perished; neither haue they any more a portion for euer in any thing that is done vnder the Sunne.
From verse 3
- Luke 23:29Rank 1 from verse 3
29For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.
29For beholde, the dayes are comming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that neuer bare, and the paps which neuer gaue sucke.
- Ecclesiastes 6:3–5Rank 2 from verse 3
3¶ If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.
4For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.
5Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.
3¶ If a man beget an hundred children, and liue many yeeres, so that the dayes of his yeeres bee many: and his soule be not filled with good, and also that he haue no buriall, I say, that an vntimely birth is better then he.
4For he commeth in with vanitie, and departeth in darkenesse, and his name shall be couered with darkenesse.
5Moreouer hee hath not seene the Sunne, nor knowen any thing: this hath more rest then the other.
- Matthew 24:19Rank 3 from verse 3
- Ecclesiastes 2:17Rank 4 from verse 3
- Jeremiah 20:17–18Rank 5 from verse 3
17Because he slew me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be always great with me.
18Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?
17Because he slew me not from the wombe: or that my mother might haue beene my graue, and her wombe to be alwaies great with me.
18*Wherefore came I forth out of the wombe to see labour and sorrow, that my daies should be consumed with shame?
- Jeremiah 9:2–3Rank 6 from verse 3
2Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.
3And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the Lord.
2Oh that I had in the wildernesse a lodging place of wayfaring men, that I might leaue my people, and goe from them: for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.
3And they bend their tongue like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the trueth vpon the earth: for they proceed from euil to euill, and they know not me, saith the LORD.
- Job 10:18–19Rank 7 from verse 3
18Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!
19I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.
18*Wherfore then hast thou brought me forth out of the wombe? Oh that I had giuen vp the ghost, and no eye had seene me!
19I should haue bene as though I had not bene, I should haue bene caried from the wombe to the graue.
- Job 3:10–16Rank 8 from verse 3
10Because it shut not up the doors of my mother’s womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.
11Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?
12Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?
13For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest,
14With kings and counsellers of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves;
15Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver:
16Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.
10Because it shut not vp the doores of my mothers wombe, nor hid sorrowe from mine eyes.
11Why died I not from the wombe? why did I not giue vp the ghost when I came out of the bellie?
12Why did the knees preuent mee? or why the breasts, that I should sucke?
13For now should I haue lien still and beene quiet, I should haue slept; then had I bene at rest,
14With Kings and counsellers of the earth, which built desolate places for themselues,
15Or with Princes that had golde, who filled their houses with siluer:
16Or as an hidden vntimely birth, I had not bene; as infants which neuer saw light.
- Psalms 55:6–11Rank 10 from verse 3
6And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.
7Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.
8I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
9Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
11Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
6And I said, O that I had wings like a doue; for then would I flee away and be at rest.
7Loe, then would I wander farre off, and remaine in the wildernesse. Selah.
8I would hasten my escape from the windie storme, and tempest.
9Destroy, O LORD, and diuide their tongues: for I haue seene violence and strife in the citie.
10Day and night they goe about it vpon the walles thereof: mischiefe also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
11Wickednesse is in the midst thereof: deceite and guile depart not from her streets.
- Ecclesiastes 1:14Rank 11 from verse 3
WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE
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DEFINED WORDS
Ecclesiastes 4:2
1. For that reason, or as a conclusion from what precedes; therefore or consequently. 2. For what reason or purpose; why.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Commended, honoured, or declared worthy of admiration.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: Without life; deprived of life. Sense 2: Lifeless, inactive, insensible, or separated from a former state by figure.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
1. An interrogative or relative pronoun identifying one or more persons or things from a stated or implied set. 2. That which; what.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Before the present or stated time; by this time.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
Sense 1: Alive or having life. Sense 2: As a noun, one's means of support or possessions.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
1. Up to or at the present or stated time; still. 2. At some future time. 3. Nevertheless; however. 4. In addition; further.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: Living; having life; not dead. Sense 2: Continuing or active in life, force, or operation.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
DEFINED WORDS
Ecclesiastes 4:3
1. Indeed, marking confirmation, emphasis, addition, continuation, or heightening of what is said; it may also emphasize a question. 2. Yes, expressing an affirmative answer or declaration.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: More excellent, more fitting, or to a greater degree. Sense 2: To improve or make better.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
1. An interrogative or relative pronoun identifying one or more persons or things from a stated or implied set. 2. That which; what.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
1. Up to or at the present or stated time; still. 2. At some future time. 3. Nevertheless; however. 4. In addition; further.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: Moral wickedness, sin, wrong, or corruption. Sense 2: Harm, misery, calamity, adversity, or punishment.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: Labour, occupation, an assigned task, or service. Sense 2: An action, deed, operation, effect, product, thing made, or manner of workmanship. Sense 3: To labour, act, operate, perform, make, produce, accomplish, or bring about.
Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
The great light that rules the day and gives light and heat.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
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1SO I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
1¶ *†So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done vnder the sunne; & behold the teares of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter: and on the side of their oppressours there was power, but they had no comforter.
2Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
2*Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead, more then the liuing which are yet aliue.
Selected passage3Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
3*Yea better is he then both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seene the euill worke that is done vnder the Sunne.
Selected passage4¶ Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
4¶ ††Againe I considered all trauaile, and euery right worke, that for this a man is enuied of his neighbour: this is also vanitie, and vexation of spirit.