Ecclesiastes 9:4
2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.
3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
5 For 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.
6 Also 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.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- There is hope, however, for anyone who is among the living; for even a live dog is better than a dead lion.
- KJV
- For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
- WEB
- For to him who is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
- ASV
- For to him that is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
- DARBY
- For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
- BLB
- For whoever that is joined to all the living, there is hope, for a living dog is better than a lion that is dead;
- ÅB
- for hvem er det vel som slipper? For alle dem som lever, er det håp; for en levende hund er bedre enn en død løve;
- OTB
- For den som er blant de levende, er det håp; ja, en levende hund er bedre enn en død løve.
- B1930
- for hvem er det vel som slipper? For alle dem som lever, er det håp; for en levende hund er bedre enn en død løve;
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Job 14:7–12
For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
Read in contextIsaiah 38:18
For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.
Read in contextLuke 16:26–29
And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Read in contextLamentations 3:21–22
This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
Read in contextJob 27:8
For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?
Read in context