Ecclesiastes 9:4

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

Better to Be Poor but Alive than Rich but Dead But whoever is among the living has hope; a live dog is better than a dead lion.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Job 14:7-9 : 7 The Inevitability of Death“But there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail. 8 Although its roots may grow old in the ground and its stump begins to die in the soil, 9 at the scent of water it will flourish and put forth shoots like a new plant. 10 But man dies and is powerless; he expires– and where is he? 11 As water disappears from the sea, or a river drains away and dries up, 12 so man lies down and does not rise; until the heavens are no more, they will not awake nor arise from their sleep.
  • Job 27:8 : 8 For what hope does the godless have when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?
  • Isa 38:18 : 18 Indeed Sheol does not give you thanks; death does not praise you. Those who descend into the Pit do not anticipate your faithfulness.
  • Lam 3:21-22 : 21 But this I call to mind; therefore I have hope: 22 ח(Khet) The LORD’s loyal kindness never ceases; his compassions never end.
  • Luke 16:26-29 : 26 Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us, so that those who want to cross over from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ 27 So the rich man said,‘Then I beg you, father– send Lazarus to my father’s house 28 (for I have five brothers) to warn them so that they don’t come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said,‘They have Moses and the prophets; they must respond to them.’

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Eccl 9:5-6
    2 verses
    79%

    5For the living know that they will die, but the dead do not know anything; they have no further reward– and even the memory of them disappears.

    6What they loved, as well as what they hated and envied, perished long ago, and they no longer have a part in anything that happens on earth.

  • Eccl 4:2-3
    2 verses
    76%

    2So I considered those who are dead and gone more fortunate than those who are still alive.

    3But better than both is the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth.

  • Eccl 3:18-22
    5 verses
    73%

    18I also thought to myself,“It is for the sake of people, so God can clearly show them that they are like animals.

    19For the fate of humans and the fate of animals are the same: As one dies, so dies the other; both have the same breath. There is no advantage for humans over animals, for both are fleeting.

    20Both go to the same place, both come from the dust, and to dust both return.

    21Who really knows if the human spirit ascends upward, and the animal’s spirit descends into the earth?

    22So I perceived there is nothing better than for people to enjoy their work, because that is their reward; for who can show them what the future holds?

  • Eccl 9:3
    73%

    3This is the unfortunate fact about everything that happens on earth: the same fate awaits everyone. In addition to this, the hearts of all people are full of evil, and there is folly in their hearts during their lives– then they die.

  • Eccl 7:2
    72%

    2It is better to go to a funeral than a feast. For death is the destiny of every person, and the living should take this to heart.

  • Ps 49:9
    71%

    9so that he might continue to live forever and not experience death.

  • Eccl 9:9-10
    2 verses
    70%

    9Enjoy life with your beloved wife during all the days of your fleeting life that God has given you on earth during all your fleeting days; for that is your reward in life and in your burdensome work on earth.

    10Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, because there is neither work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave, the place where you will eventually go.

  • Eccl 3:12
    70%

    12Enjoy Life in the Present I have concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they live,

  • Eccl 6:6
    69%

    6if he should live a thousand years twice, yet does not enjoy his prosperity. For both of them die!

  • Ps 89:48
    69%

    48No man can live on without experiencing death, or deliver his life from the power of Sheol.(Selah)

  • Job 14:7
    69%

    7The Inevitability of Death“But there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail.

  • Eccl 2:16-17
    2 verses
    69%

    16For the wise man, like the fool, will not be remembered for very long, because in the days to come, both will already have been forgotten. Alas, the wise man dies– just like the fool!

    17So I loathed life because what happens on earth seems awful to me; for all the benefits of wisdom are futile– like chasing the wind.

  • Eccl 6:8
    69%

    8So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool? And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?

  • Eccl 11:8
    68%

    8So, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all, but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many– all that is about to come is obscure.

  • Eccl 4:15-16
    2 verses
    68%

    15I considered all the living who walk on earth, as well as the successor who would arise in his place.

    16There is no end to all the people nor to the past generations, yet future generations will not rejoice in him. This also is profitless and like chasing the wind.

  • Eccl 6:11-12
    2 verses
    68%

    11The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes. How does that benefit him?

    12For no one knows what is best for a person during his life– during the few days of his fleeting life– for they pass away like a shadow. Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth.

  • Prov 14:32
    68%

    32An evil person will be thrown down through his wickedness, but a righteous person takes refuge in his integrity.

  • Job 33:30
    68%

    30to turn back his life from the place of corruption, that he may be enlightened with the light of life.

  • Eccl 4:9
    68%

    9Labor is Beneficial When Its Rewards Are Shared Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor.

  • Luke 20:38
    68%

    38Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live before him.”

  • Eccl 8:15
    68%

    15Enjoy Life In Spite of Its Injustices So I recommend the enjoyment of life, for there is nothing better on earth for a person to do except to eat, drink, and enjoy life. So joy will accompany him in his toil during the days of his life which God gives him on earth.

  • Job 14:14
    67%

    14If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait until my release comes.

  • Eccl 6:3
    67%

    3Even if a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years– even if he lives a long, long time, but cannot enjoy his prosperity– even if he were to live forever– I would say,“A stillborn child is better off than he is!”

  • Job 3:20-22
    3 verses
    67%

    20Longing for Death“Why does God give light to one who is in misery, and life to those whose soul is bitter,

    21to those who wait for death that does not come, and search for it more than for hidden treasures,

    22who rejoice even to jubilation, and are exultant when they find the grave?

  • 1 Pet 4:6
    67%

    6Now it was for this very purpose that the gospel was preached to those who are now dead, so that though they were judged in the flesh by human standards they may live spiritually by God’s standards.

  • Ps 49:12
    67%

    12but, despite their wealth, people do not last, they are like animals that perish.

  • Eccl 9:1
    66%

    1Everyone Will Die So I reflected on all this, attempting to clear it all up. I concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their works, are in the hand of God; whether a person will be loved or hated– no one knows what lies ahead.

  • Eccl 7:15
    66%

    15Exceptions to the Law of Retribution During the days of my fleeting life I have seen both of these things: Sometimes a righteous person dies prematurely in spite of his righteousness, and sometimes a wicked person lives long in spite of his evil deeds.

  • Eccl 2:24
    66%

    24Enjoy Work and its Benefits There is nothing better for people than to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in their work. I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment comes from God.

  • Ps 49:18-19
    2 verses
    66%

    18He pronounces this blessing on himself while he is alive:“May men praise you, for you have done well!”

    19But he will join his ancestors; they will never again see the light of day.

  • Prov 15:24
    66%

    24The path of life is upward for the wise person, to keep him from going downward to Sheol.

  • Prov 21:16
    66%

    16The one who wanders from the way of wisdom will end up in the company of the departed.

  • Isa 38:16
    66%

    16O Lord, your decrees can give men life; may years of life be restored to me. Restore my health and preserve my life.’

  • Ps 146:5
    66%

    5How blessed is the one whose helper is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,

  • Ps 34:12
    66%

    12Do you want to really live? Would you love to live a long, happy life?

  • Acts 24:15
    66%

    15I have a hope in God(a hope that these men themselves accept too) that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.

  • 1 Thess 4:13
    66%

    13The Lord Returns for Believers Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope.