Ecclesiastes 4:2

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

Noyes Bible

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 turned and saw all the oppressions which take place under the sun; and, behold, there were the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and from the hand of their oppressors there was violence, and they had no comforter.

3Yea, better than both of them is he who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work which is done under the sun.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 4

Cross References

Job 3:11Why died I not at my birth? Why did I not expire when I came forth from the womb?

Job 3:21Who long for death, and it cometh not, And dig for it more than for hid treasures;

Ecclesiastes 2:17Therefore I hated life, because what is done under the sun appeared evil to me. For all is vanity, and striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 9:4For who is there that is excepted? 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 →

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