Ecclesiastes 9:4 asv — For to him that is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

American Standard Version

"For to him that is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion. "

— Ecclesiastes 9:4, American Standard Version

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Ecclesiastes 9:4 in Other Translations

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Ecclesiastes 9 — Context

1

For all this I laid to my heart, even to explore all this: that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God; whether it be love or hatred, man knoweth it not; all is before them.

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 in all that is 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.

4

For to him that is joined with 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 anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

6

As well their love, as their hatred and their envy, is perished long ago; neither have they any more a portion for ever in anything that is done under the sun.

7

Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God hath already accepted thy works.

Ecclesiastes 9:4 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ecclesiastes 9:4 say?
Ecclesiastes 9:4 in the American Standard Version reads: “For to him that is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion. ”
Where is Ecclesiastes 9:4 in the Bible?
Ecclesiastes 9:4 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 9, verse 4.
Who wrote Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes is traditionally attributed to Solomon (traditional; identified as "the Preacher, son of David"). It was written c. 940 BC.
What is the book of Ecclesiastes about?
Ecclesiastes is a candid meditation on life "under the sun" — its pleasures, its pains, and its apparent vanity. The Preacher tries wisdom, wealth, work, and pleasure, finds them all empty without God, and concludes that fearing God and keeping his commandments is the whole of man.
What are the major themes of Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes explores themes including Vanity, Time, Meaning, Fear of God, Mortality. These themes shape the meaning and context of Ecclesiastes 9:4.
What translation should I read Ecclesiastes 9:4 in?
Ecclesiastes 9:4 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Ecclesiastes 9:4?
Ecclesiastes 9:4 reads (ASV): “For to him that is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion. ” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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