Ecclesiastes 4:2

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

A Conservative Version

In The King James Version

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

In Context

1Then I returned and saw 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.

3Yea, better than them both [is] him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 4

Cross References

Job 3:11Why did I not die from the womb? Why did I not give up the spirit when my mother bore me?

Job 3:21who long for death, but it comes not, and dig for it more than for hid treasures,

Ecclesiastes 2:17So I hated life, because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous to me. For all is vanity and a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 9:4Because to him who is joined with all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 4:2-4

The Prevalence of Oppression. 1 So 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. 2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. 3 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. Solomon had a large soul ( 1 Kings… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Ecclesiastes 4:2