Ecclesiastes 9:4 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

For to him that is joined to all the living, there is hope— And surely, whoever is in society, with all the living, hath hope. For a living dog hath a better chance than a dead lion. The last sentence may be literally rendered thus: Good shall rather happen to a living dog than to a dead lion; which is the foundation of hope expressed in the words immediately preceding. It is very evident, that Solomon speaks in these verses solely of a man's state with respect to this world; not denying or affirming any thing concerning his state or expectations in the next.