Ecclesiastes 4:2
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.
Narration uses the Pure Cambridge Edition.
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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.
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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
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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.