Ecclesiastes 9:4
Modern Translations
New International Version
Anyone who is among the living has hope --even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!

New Living Translation
There is hope only for the living. As they say, “It’s better to be a live dog than a dead lion!”

English Standard Version
But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

Berean Study Bible
There is hope, however, for anyone who is among the living; for even a live dog is better than a dead lion.

New American Standard Bible
For whoever is joined to all the living, there is hope; for better a live dog, than a dead lion.

NASB 1995
For whoever is joined with all the living, there is hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion.

NASB 1977
For whoever is joined with all the living, there is hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion.

Amplified Bible
[There is no exemption,] but whoever is joined with all the living, has hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion.

Christian Standard Bible
But there is hope for whoever is joined with all the living, since a live dog is better than a dead lion.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But there is hope for whoever is joined with all the living, since a live dog is better than a dead lion.

Contemporary English Version
As long as we are alive, we still have hope, just as a live dog is better off than a dead lion.

Good News Translation
But anyone who is alive in the world of the living has some hope; a live dog is better off than a dead lion.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But all who are among the living have hope, because a living dog is better than a dead lion.

International Standard Version
"While someone is among the living, hope remains," because "it is better to be a living dog than to be a dead lion."

NET Bible
But whoever is among the living has hope; a live dog is better than a dead lion.
Classic Translations
King James Bible
For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

New King James Version
But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

King James 2000 Bible
For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

New Heart English Bible
For to him who is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

World English Bible
For to him who is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

American King James Version
For to him that is joined to 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.

A Faithful Version
For whoever is among the living, there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

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

English Revised Version
For to him that is joined with all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

Webster's Bible Translation
For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

Early Modern
Geneva Bible of 1587
Surely whosoeuer is ioyned to all ye liuing, there is hope: for it is better to a liuing dog, then to a dead lyon.

Bishops' Bible of 1568
And why? as long as a man liueth, he hath an hope: for a quicke dogge say they is better then a dead lion.

Coverdale Bible of 1535
And why? As longe as a man lyueth, he is careles: for a quyck dogg (saye they) is better the a deed lion:
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
But [to] him who is joined to all the living there is confidence, for to a living dog it [is] better than to the dead lion.

Young's Literal Translation
But to him who is joined unto all the living there is confidence, for to a living dog it is better than to the dead lion.

Smith's Literal Translation
For whoever shall choose to all the living there is hope: for to a living dog it is good above a dead lion.

Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
There is no man that liveth always, or that hopeth for this: a living dog is better than a dead lion.

Catholic Public Domain Version
There is no one who lives forever, or who even has confidence in this regard. A living dog is better than a dead lion.

Translations from Aramaic
Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Everyone who shall be joined to All Life has trust, because a living dog is better than a dead lion

Lamsa Bible
For him who is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
for who is he that has fellowship with all the living? there is hope of him: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
















Ecclesiastes 9:3
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