Ecclesiastes 4:2 — Compare All Translations

English (YLT) 1898 Young's Literal Translation by Robert Young

And I am praising the dead who have already died above the living who are yet alive.

English ASV

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

English Amplified

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

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

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

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

So I commended the dead, who have already died, more than the living, who are still alive.

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

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

English EASY 2024

I thought about people who are already dead. I decided that they are happier than the people who are still alive.

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

I decided that it is better for those who have died than for those who are still alive.

And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive.

English GNT (Good News Translation)

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

English God's Word - GW 1995

I congratulate the dead, who have already died, rather than the living, who still have to carry on.

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

So I admired the dead, who have already died, more than the living, who are still alive.

English KJV 1611

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

English LSB

So I lauded the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still living.

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

And I thought that the dead, who had already died, were more fortunate than the living, who were still alive.

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

So I congratulated the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still living.

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

And those now dead, I declared more fortunate in death than are the living to be still alive.

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

So I considered those who are dead and gone more fortunate than those who are still alive.

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

Then I announced that those who have already died are happier than those who are still alive.

English NIV

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

English NKJ 1982

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

English NLT

So I concluded that the dead are better off than the living.

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

And I thought the dead, who have already died, more fortunate than the living, who are still alive;

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

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

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

So I felt that the dead were better off than the living.

English Tyndale 1537

Wherefore I judged those that are dead, to be more happy than such as be alive:

Ecclesiastes 4:2 — Compare Translations