Ecclesiastes 9

1For all this I laid to my heartH3820, even to explore all this: that the righteousH6662, and the wiseH2450, and their works, are in the handH3027 of GodH430; whether it be loveH160 or hatredH8135, manH120 knoweth it not; all is before them.

2All things come alike to all: there is oneH259 event to the righteousH6662 and to the wickedH7563; to the goodH2896 and to the cleanH2889 and to the uncleanH2931; to him that sacrificeth and to him that sacrificeth not; as is the goodH2896, so is the sinnerH2398; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oathH7621. 3This is an evilH7451 in all that is done under the sunH8121, that there is oneH259 event unto all: yea alsoH1571, the heartH3820 of the sonsH1121 of menH120 is fullH4390 of evilH7451, and madnessH1947 is in their heartH3820 while they live, and after that they go to the deadH4191. 4For to him that is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dogH3611 is betterH2896 than a deadH4191 lionH738. 5For the living knowH3045 that they shall dieH4191: but the deadH4191 knowH3045 not anythingH3972, neither have they any more a rewardH7939; for the memoryH2143 of them is forgottenH7911. 6As wellH1571 their loveH160, as their hatredH8135 and their envyH7068, is perishedH6 longH5769 agoH5769; neither have they any more a portionH2506 for everH5769 in anything that is done under the sunH8121.

7Go thy way, eatH398 thy breadH3899 with joyH8057, and drinkH8354 thy wineH3196 with a merry heartH3820; for GodH430 hath alreadyH3528 acceptedH7521 thy worksH4639. 8Let thy garmentsH899 beH1961 always whiteH3836; and let not thy headH7218 lackH2637 oilH8081. 9Live joyfully with the wifeH802 whom thou lovest all the daysH3117 of thy life of vanityH1892, which he hath givenH5414 thee under the sunH8121, all thy daysH3117 of vanityH1892: for that is thy portionH2506 in life, and in thy laborH5999 wherein thou laborest under the sunH8121. 10Whatsoever thy handH3027 findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no workH4639, nor device, nor knowledgeH1847, nor wisdomH2451, in SheolH7585, whither thou goest.

11I returnedH7725, and sawH7200 under the sunH8121, that the race is not to the swiftH7031, nor the battleH4421 to the strong, neither yet breadH3899 to the wiseH2450, nor yet richesH6239 to menH1368 of understandingH995, nor yet favorH2580 to menH1368 of skill; but timeH6256 and chance happeneth to them all. 12For manH120 alsoH1571 knoweth not his timeH6256: as the fishes that are takenH270 in an evilH7451 net, and as the birdsH6833 that are caught in the snare, even so are the sonsH1121 of menH120 snared in an evilH7451 timeH6256, when it falleth suddenlyH6597 upon them.

13I have alsoH1571 seenH7200 wisdomH2451 under the sunH8121 on this wise, and it seemed greatH1419 unto me: 14There was a littleH4592 cityH5892, and fewH4592 menH376 within it; and there cameH935 a greatH1419 kingH4428 against it, and besieged it, and builtH1129 greatH1419 bulwarks against it. 15Now there was foundH4672 in it a poorH4542 wiseH2450 manH376, and he by his wisdomH2451 deliveredH4422 the cityH5892; yet no manH376 rememberedH2142 that same poorH4542 manH376. 16Then saidH559 I, WisdomH2451 is betterH2896 than strengthH1369: nevertheless the poorH4542 man’s wisdomH2451 is despisedH959, and his wordsH1697 are not heardH8085. 17The wordsH1697 of the wiseH2450 heardH8085 in quiet are better than the cryH2201 of him that ruleth among foolsH3684. 18WisdomH2451 is betterH2896 than weaponsH3627 of warH7128; but oneH259 sinnerH2398 destroyeth muchH7235 goodH2896.