Ecclesiastes 9:5 “For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing. The…”

Ecclesiastes 9:5

For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, because the memory of them is forgotten.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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.

World English Bible

For the living know that they will die, but the dead don’t know anything, neither do they have any more a reward; for their memory is forgotten.

American Standard Version

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.

Geneva Bible 1599

For the liuing knowe that they shall dye, but the dead knowe nothing at all: neither haue they any more a rewarde: for their remembrance is forgotten.

Darby Translation

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.

Young's Literal Translation

For the living know that they die, and the dead know not anything, and there is no more to them a reward, for their remembrance hath been forgotten.

Bible in Basic English

The living are conscious that death will come to them, but the dead are not conscious of anything, and they no longer have a reward, because there is no memory of them.

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Cross references

“the living”

Hebrews 9:27 Ecclesiastes 7:2 Job 30:23

Hebrews 9:27 · BSB

Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment,

Ecclesiastes 7:2 · BSB

It is better to enter a house of mourning than a house of feasting, since death is the end of every man, and the living should take this to heart.

Job 30:23 · BSB

Yes, I know that You will bring me down to death, to the place appointed for all the living.

“the dead”

Psalm 6:5 Job 14:21 Isaiah 63:16 Psalm 88:10 Psalm 88:11

Psalm 6:5 · BSB

For there is no mention of You in death; who can praise You from Sheol?

Job 14:21 · BSB

If his sons receive honor, he does not know it; if they are brought low, he is unaware.

Isaiah 63:16 · BSB

Yet You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not acknowledge us. You, O LORD, are our Father; our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.

Psalm 88:10 · BSB

Do You work wonders for the dead? Do departed spirits rise up to praise You? Selah

Psalm 88:11 · BSB

Can Your loving devotion be proclaimed in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon ?

“for the”

Isaiah 26:14 Psalm 109:15 Ecclesiastes 2:16 Ecclesiastes 8:10 Job 7:8–10

Isaiah 26:14 · BSB

The dead will not live; the departed spirits will not rise. Therefore You have punished and destroyed them; You have wiped out all memory of them.

Psalm 109:15 · BSB

May their sins always remain before the LORD, that He may cut off their memory from the earth.

Ecclesiastes 2:16 · BSB

For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, just as with the fool, seeing that both will be forgotten in the days to come. Alas, the wise man will die just like the fool!

Ecclesiastes 8:10 · BSB

Then too, I saw the burial of the wicked who used to go in and out of the holy place, and they were praised in the city where they had done so. This too is futile.

Job 7:8–10 · BSB

The eye that beholds me will no longer see me. You will look for me, but I will be no more.

Also

Ecclesiastes 1:11

Ecclesiastes 1:11 · BSB

There is no remembrance of those who came before, and those yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow after.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

4There is hope, however, for anyone who is among the living; for even a live dog is better than a dead lion.

6Their love, their hate, and their envy have already vanished, and they will never again have a share in all that is done under the sun.

Read Ecclesiastes 9