Berean Standard Bible

Ecclesiastes 9

1Soכִּ֣יkiH3588אֶת־'et-H853I tookנָתַ֤תִּיna.Ta.tiH5414allכָּל־kol-H3605thisזֶ֞הzehH2088toאֶל־'el-H413heartלִבִּי֙li.BiH3820and concludedוְלָב֣וּרve.la.VurH952אֶת־'et-H853כָּל־kol-H3605זֶ֔הZehH2088thatאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834the righteousהַצַּדִּיקִ֧יםha.tza.di.KimH6662and the wiseוְהַחֲכָמִ֛יםve.ha.cha.kha.MimH2450,as well as their deedsוַעֲבָדֵיהֶ֖םva.'a.va.dei.HemH5652,are in God’sהָאֱלֹהִ֑יםha.'E.lo.HimH430handsבְּיַ֣דbe.YadH3027.Manהָֽאָדָ֔םha.'a.DamH120does notאֵ֤ין'einH369knowיוֹדֵ֙עַ֙yo.De.a'H3045whatהַכֹּ֖לha.KolH3605lies aheadלִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃lif.nei.HemH6440,whetherגַּֽם־gam-H1571loveאַהֲבָ֣ה'a.ha.VahH160orגַם־gam-H1571hateשִׂנְאָ֗הsin.'AhH8135.

2It is the sameהַכֹּ֞ל כַּאֲשֶׁ֣רha.Kol ka.'a.SherH3605 H834for allלַכֹּ֗לla.KolH3605:There is a commonאֶחָ֜ד'e.ChadH259fateמִקְרֶ֨הmik.RehH4745for the righteousלַצַּדִּ֤יקla.tza.DikH6662and the wickedוְלָרָשָׁע֙ve.la.ra.Sha'H7563,for the goodלַטּוֹב֙la.tOvH2896and the bad,for the cleanוְלַטָּה֣וֹרve.la.ta.HorH2889and the uncleanוְלַטָּמֵ֔אve.la.ta.Me'H2931,for the one who sacrificesוְלַזֹּבֵ֔חַve.la.zo.Ve.achH2076and the oneוְלַאֲשֶׁ֖רve.la.'a.SherH834who does notאֵינֶ֣נּוּ'ei.Ne.nuH369זֹבֵ֑חַzo.Ve.achH2076.As it is for the goodכַּטּוֹב֙ka.tOvH2896,so it is for the sinnerכַּֽחֹטֶ֔אka.cho.Te'H2398;as it is for the one who makes a vowהַנִּשְׁבָּ֕עha.nish.Ba'H7650,soכַּאֲשֶׁ֖רka.'a.SherH834it isfor the one who refusesיָרֵֽא׃ya.Re'H3373to take a vowשְׁבוּעָ֥הshe.vu.'AhH7621.

3Thisזֶ֣ה׀zehH2088is an evilרָ֗עRa'H7451in everythingבְּכֹ֤לbe.KholH3605thatאֲשֶֽׁר־'a.Sher-H834is doneנַעֲשָׂה֙na.'a.SahH6213underתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478the sunהַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ כִּֽי־ha.She.mesh ki-H8121 H3588:There is oneאֶחָ֖ד'e.ChadH259fateמִקְרֶ֥הmik.RehH4745for everyoneלַכֹּ֑לla.KolH3605.Furthermoreוְגַ֣םve.GamH1571,the heartsלֵ֣בlevH3820of menבְּֽנֵי־ הָ֠אָדָםbe.nei- Ha.'a.domH1121 H120are full ofמָלֵא־ma.le'-H4392evilרָ֨עra'H7451and madnessוְהוֹלֵל֤וֹתve.ho.le.LotH1947בִּלְבָבָם֙bil.va.VamH3824while they are aliveבְּחַיֵּיהֶ֔םbe.chai.yei.HemH2416,and afterwardוְאַחֲרָ֖יוve.'a.cha.RavH310theyאֶל־'el-H413jointhe deadהַמֵּתִֽים׃ha.me.TimH4191.

4There isיֵ֣שׁyeshH3426hopeבִּטָּח֑וֹןbi.ta.ChonH986,howeverכִּי־ki-H3588,for anyone whoמִי֙miH4310אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834is amongאֶ֥ל'elH977 H413the livingכָּל־ הַחַיִּ֖יםkol- ha.chai.YimH3605 H2416;for evenכִּֽי־ki-H3588a liveחַי֙ ה֣וּאchai hu'H2416 H1931dogלְכֶ֤לֶבle.Khe.levH3611is betterט֔וֹבTovH2896thanמִן־min-H4480a deadהַמֵּֽת׃ha.MetH4191lionהָאַרְיֵ֖הha.'ar.YehH738.

5Forכִּ֧יkiH3588the livingהַֽחַיִּ֛יםha.chai.YimH2416knowיוֹדְעִ֖יםyod.'ImH3045that they will dieשֶׁיָּמֻ֑תוּshei.ya.Mu.tuH4191,but the deadוְהַמֵּתִ֞יםve.ha.me.TimH4191knowיוֹדְעִ֣יםyod.'ImH3045nothingאֵינָ֧ם מְא֗וּמָה'ei.Nam me.'U.mahH369 H3972.They have noוְאֵֽין־ve.'ein-H369furtherע֤וֹדodH5750rewardשָׂכָ֔רsa.KharH7939,becauseכִּ֥יkiH3588the memoryזִכְרָֽם׃zikh.RamH2143of them is forgottenנִשְׁכַּ֖חnish.KachH7911.

6Their loveגַּ֣ם אַהֲבָתָ֧םgam 'a.ha.va.TamH160 H1571,their hateגַּם־ שִׂנְאָתָ֛םgam- sin.'a.TamH8135 H1571,andגַּם־gam-H1571their envyקִנְאָתָ֖םkin.'a.TamH7068have alreadyכְּבָ֣רke.VarH3528vanishedאָבָ֑דָה'a.Va.dahH6,and they will never again haveאֵין־ עוֹד֙ לְעוֹלָ֔ם'ein- 'Od le.'o.LamH369 H5750 H5769a shareוְחֵ֨לֶקve.Che.lekH2506in allבְּכֹ֥לbe.KholH3605thatאֲשֶֽׁר־'a.Sher-H834is doneנַעֲשָׂ֖הna.'a.SahH6213underתַּ֥חַתTa.chatH8478the sunהַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ha.Sha.meshH8121.

Enjoy Your Portion in This Life

7Goלֵ֣ךְlekhH1980,eatאֱכֹ֤ל'e.KholH398your breadלַחְמֶ֔ךָlach.Me.khaH3899with joyבְּשִׂמְחָה֙be.sim.ChahH8057,and drinkוּֽשֲׁתֵ֥הu.sha.TehH8354your wineיֵינֶ֑ךָyei.Ne.khaH3196with a cheerfulט֖וֹבTovH2896heartבְלֶב־ve.lev-H3820,forכִּ֣יkiH3588Godהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.HimH430אֶֽת־'et-H853has alreadyכְבָ֔רkhe.VarH3528approvedרָצָ֥הra.TzahH7521your worksמַעֲשֶֽׂיךָ׃ma.'a.Sei.khaH4639:

8Let your garmentsבְגָדֶ֖יךָve.ga.Dei.khaH899alwaysבְּכָל־ עֵ֕תbe.khol 'etH3605 H6256beיִהְי֥וּyih.YuH1961whiteלְבָנִ֑יםle.va.NimH3836,and neverאַל־'al-H408spareיֶחְסָֽר׃yech.SarH2637the oilוְשֶׁ֖מֶןve.She.menH8081forעַל־'al-H5921your headרֹאשְׁךָ֥ro.she.KhaH7218.

9Enjoyרְאֵ֨הre.'EhH7200lifeחַיִּ֜יםchai.YimH2416withעִם־'im-H5973your belovedאָהַ֗בְתָּ'a.Hav.taH157wifeאִשָּׁ֣ה'i.ShahH802אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834allכָּל־kol-H3605the daysיְמֵי֙ye.MeiH3117of the fleetingהֶבְלֶ֔ךָhev.Le.khaH1892lifeחַיֵּ֣יchai.YeiH2416thatאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834Godhas givenנָֽתַן־na.tan-H5414youunderתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478the sunהַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁha.She.meshH8121—allכֹּ֖לkolH3605your fleetingהֶבְלֶ֑ךָhev.Le.khaH1892daysיְמֵ֣יye.MeiH3117.Forכִּ֣יkiH3588thisה֤וּאhu'H1931is your portionחֶלְקְךָ֙chel.ke.ChaH2506in lifeבַּֽחַיִּ֔יםba.chai.YimH2416and in your laborוּבַעֲמָ֣לְךָ֔u.va.'a.Mal.khaH5999אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834אַתָּ֥ה'a.TahH859עָמֵ֖ל'a.MelH6001underתַּ֥חַתTa.chatH8478the sunהַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ha.Sha.meshH8121.

10Whateverכֹּ֠לkolH3605אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834you findתִּמְצָ֧אtim.Tza'H4672to doלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213with your handsיָֽדְךָ֛ya.de.KhaH3027,doעֲשֵׂ֑ה'a.SehH6213itwith all your mightבְּכֹחֲךָ֖be.kho.cha.KhaH3581,forכִּי֩kiH3588in Sheolבִּשְׁא֕וֹלbish.'olH7585,whereאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834youאַתָּ֖ה'a.TahH859are goingהֹלֵ֥ךְho.LekhH1980,there isשָֽׁמָּה׃ סSha.mahH8033noאֵ֨ין'einH369workמַעֲשֶׂ֤הma.'a.SehH4639or planningוְחֶשְׁבּוֹן֙ve.chesh.bOnH2808or knowledgeוְדַ֣עַתve.Da.'atH1847or wisdomוְחָכְמָ֔הve.cha.khe.MahH2451.

11I sawוְרָאֹ֣הve.ra.'OhH7200something elseשַׁ֜בְתִּיShav.tiH7725underתַֽחַת־ta.chat-H8478the sunהַשֶּׁ֗מֶשׁha.She.meshH8121כִּ֣יkiH3588:The raceלֹא֩ הַמֵּר֜וֹץlo' ha.me.RotzH4793 H3808is notוְלֹ֧אve.Lo'H3808to the swiftלַקַּלִּ֨יםla.ka.LimH7031,nor the battleהַמִּלְחָמָ֗הha.mil.cha.MahH4421to the strongלַגִּבּוֹרִ֣יםla.gi.bo.RimH1368וְ֠גַםVe.gamH1571;neitherלֹ֣אlo'H3808isthe breadלֶ֙חֶם֙le.chemH3899to the wiseלַחֲכָמִ֥יםla.cha.kha.MimH2450,norוְגַ֨ם לֹ֤אve.Gam lo'H1571 H3808the wealthעֹ֔שֶׁר'O.sherH6239to the intelligentלַנְּבֹנִים֙la.ne.vo.NimH995,norוְגַ֛ם לֹ֥אve.Gam lo'H1571 H3808the favorחֵ֑ןChenH2580to the skillfulלַיֹּדְעִ֖יםlai.yo.de.'ImH3045.Forכִּי־ki-H3588timeעֵ֥ת'etH6256and chanceוָפֶ֖גַעva.Fe.ga'H6294happenיִקְרֶ֥הyik.RehH7136אֶת־'et-H853to allכֻּלָּֽם׃ku.LamH3605.

12Forכִּ֡יkiH3588surelyגַּם֩gamH1571noלֹֽא־lo'-H3808manהָאָדָ֜םha.'a.DamH120אֶת־'et-H853knowsיֵדַ֨עye.Da'H3045his timeעִתּ֗וֹi.ToH6256:Like fishכַּדָּגִים֙ka.da.GimH1709caughtשֶׁנֶּֽאֱחָזִים֙she.ne.'e.cha.ZimH270in a cruelרָעָ֔הra.'AhH7451netבִּמְצוֹדָ֣הbim.tzo.DahH4685or birdsוְכַ֨צִּפֳּרִ֔יםve.Khatz.tzi.po.RimH6833trappedהָאֲחֻז֖וֹתha.'a.chu.ZotH270in a snareבַּפָּ֑חba.PachH6341,so menבְּנֵ֣י הָֽאָדָ֔םbe.Nei ha.'a.DamH1121 H120are ensnaredיֽוּקָשִׁים֙yu.ka.ShimH3369in an evilרָעָ֔הra.'AhH7451timeלְעֵ֣תle.'EtH6256that suddenlyפִּתְאֹֽם׃pit.'OmH6597fallsכְּשֶׁתִּפּ֥וֹלke.shet.ti.PolH5307upon themעֲלֵיהֶ֖ם'a.lei.HemH5921.

Wisdom Is Better than Strength

13I have also seenגַּם־ רָאִ֥יתִיgam- ra.'I.tiH7200 H1571thisזֹ֛הzohH2090wisdomחָכְמָ֖הchokh.mahH2451underתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478the sunהַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁha.Sha.meshH8121,and itהִ֖יאhi'H1931wasgreatוּגְדוֹלָ֥הu.ge.do.LahH1419to meאֵלָֽי׃'e.LaiH413:

14There was a smallקְטַנָּ֔הke.ta.NahH6996cityעִ֣יר'irH5892with fewמְעָ֑טme.'AtH4592menוַאֲנָשִׁ֥יםva.'a.na.ShimH582.A mightyגָּדוֹל֙ga.dOlH1419kingמֶ֤לֶךְMe.lekhH4428cameוּבָֽא־u.va'-H935against itאֵלֶ֜יהָ'e.Lei.haH413,surrounded itוְסָבַ֣בve.sa.VavH5437אֹתָ֔הּ'o.TahH853,and builtוּבָנָ֥הu.va.NahH1129largeגְּדֹלִֽים׃ge.do.LimH1419siege rampsמְצוֹדִ֥יםme.tzo.DimH4685against itעָלֶ֖יהָ'a.Lei.haH5921.

15Now a poorמִסְכֵּן֙mis.KenH4542wiseחָכָ֔םcha.KhamH2450manאִ֤ישׁ'ishH376was foundוּמָ֣צָאu.Ma.tza'H4672in the city,and heה֥וּאhu'H1931אֶת־'et-H853savedוּמִלַּט־u.mi.lat-H4422the cityהָעִ֖ירha.'IrH5892by his wisdomבְּחָכְמָת֑וֹbe.cha.khe.ma.ToH2451.Yet noלֹ֣אlo'H3808oneוְאָדָם֙ve.'a.DamH120rememberedזָכַ֔רza.KharH2142אֶת־'et-H853thatהַהּֽוּא׃ha.Hu'H1931poorהַמִּסְכֵּ֖ןha.mis.KenH4542manהָאִ֥ישׁha.'IshH376.

16And Iאָ֔נִי'A.niH589saidוְאָמַ֣רְתִּיve.'a.Mar.tiH559, “Wisdomחָכְמָ֖הchokh.mahH2451is betterטוֹבָ֥הto.VahH2896than strengthמִגְּבוּרָ֑הmi.ge.vu.RahH1369,but the wisdomוְחָכְמַ֤תve.cha.khe.MatH2451of the poorהַמִּסְכֵּן֙ha.mis.KenH4542man is despisedבְּזוּיָ֔הbe.zu.YahH959,and his wordsוּדְבָרָ֖יוu.de.va.RavH1697are notאֵינָ֥ם'ei.NamH369heededנִשְׁמָעִֽים׃nish.ma.'ImH8085.”

17The calmבְּנַ֖חַתbe.Na.chatH5183wordsדִּבְרֵ֣יdiv.ReiH1697of the wiseחֲכָמִ֔יםcha.kha.MimH2450are heededנִשְׁמָעִ֑יםnish.ma.'ImH8085over the shoutsמִזַּעֲקַ֥תmi.za.'a.KatH2201of a rulerמוֹשֵׁ֖לmo.ShelH4910among foolsבַּכְּסִילִֽים׃ba.ke.si.LimH3684.

18Wisdomחָכְמָ֖הchokh.mahH2451is betterטוֹבָ֥הto.VahH2896than weaponsמִכְּלֵ֣יmi.ke.LeiH3627of warקְרָ֑בke.RavH7128,but oneאֶחָ֔ד'e.ChadH259sinnerוְחוֹטֶ֣אve.cho.Te'H2398destroysיְאַבֵּ֥דye.'a.BedH6muchהַרְבֵּֽה׃har.BehH7235goodטוֹבָ֥הto.VahH2896.

Enjoy Your Portion in This Life

Wisdom Is Better than Strength

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 9