Ecclesiastes 4:2

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1 Then I returned and considered all the ^aoppression that is done under the sun:
And look! The tears of the oppressed,
But they have no comforter—
¹On the side of their oppressors there is power,
But they have no comforter.

2 ^aTherefore I praised the dead who were already dead,
More than the living who are still alive.

3 ^aYet, better than both is he who has never existed,
Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

The Vanity of Selfish Toil

4 Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

5 ^aThe fool folds his hands
And consumes his own flesh.

6 ^aBetter a handful with quietness
Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind.

7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun:

8 There is one alone, without¹ companion:
He has neither son nor brother.
Yet there is no end to all his labors,
Nor is his ^aeye satisfied with riches.
But ^bhe never asks,
“For whom do I toil and deprive myself of ^cgood?”
This also is vanity and a¹ grave misfortune.

The Value of a Friend

9 Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.

10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.

11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;
But how can one be warm alone?

12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Popularity Passes Away

13 Better a poor and wise youth
Than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more.

14 For he comes out of prison to be king,
Although¹ he was born poor in his kingdom.

15 I saw all the living who walk under the sun;
They were with the second youth who stands in his place.

16 There was no end of all the people¹ over whom he was made king;
Yet those who come afterward will not rejoice in him.
Surely this also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

Verse Comparison: Ecclesiastes 4:2

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American Standard Version
Wherefore I praised the dead that have been long dead more than the living that are yet alive;

Amplified® Bible
So I praised {and} thought more fortunate those who have been long dead than the living, who are still alive.

Contemporary English Version
I said to myself, "The dead are better off than the living.

Darby English Version
Then I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive;

Good News Bible
I envy those who are dead and gone; they are better off than those who are still alive.

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

New American Standard Bible
So I congratulated the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still living.

New International Version
And I declared that the dead,
who had already died,
are happier than the living,
who are still alive.

New King James Version
Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead,
More than the living who are still alive.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
So I congratulated the dead who had died already dead more than the living who still live.

Revised Standard Version
And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive;

Young's Literal Translation
And I am praising the dead who have already died above the living who are yet alive.

New English Translation
So I considered¹ those who are dead and gone² more fortunate than those who are still alive.³

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