Ecclesiastes 9

1For allH3605 this I laidH5414 to my heartH3820, evenH1571 to explore allH3605 this; that the righteousH6662, and the wiseH2450, and their works, are in the handH3027 of GodH430: whetherH1571 it be loveH160 or hatredH8135, manH120 knoweth it notH369; allH3605 is beforeH6440 them. 2AllH3605 things come alikeH259 to allH3605: there is one 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 notH369: as is the goodH2896, soH834 is the sinnerH2398; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oathH7621. 3This is an evilH7451 in allH3605 that is doneH6213 underH8478 the sunH8121, that there is one event unto allH3605: yeaH3588 also, the heartH3820 of the sonsH1121 of menH120 is fullH4390 of evilH7451, and madnessH1947 is in their heartH3820 whileH3588 they liveH2416, and afterH310 that they go to the deadH4191. 4For to him that is joined with allH3605 the livingH2416 there is hopeH986: for a livingH2416 dogH3611 is betterH2896 thanH4480 a deadH4191 lionH738. 5For the livingH2416 knowH3045 that they shall dieH4191: but the deadH4191 knowH3045 notH369 anyH5750 thingH3588, neitherH369 have they anyH5750 moreH5750 a rewardH7939; for the memoryH2143 of them is forgottenH7911. 6As wellH1571 their loveH160, as their hatredH8135 and their envyH7068, is nowH1571 perishedH6; neitherH369 have they anyH3605 moreH5750 a portionH2506 for everH5769 in anyH3605 thingH3605 that is doneH6213 underH8478 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. 8LetH408 thy garmentsH899 be alwaysH6256 whiteH3836; and letH408 notH408 thy headH7218 lackH2637 ointmentH8081. 9LiveH2416 joyfully with the wifeH802 whomH834 thou lovest allH3605 the daysH3117 of the lifeH3117 of thy vanityH1892, whichH834 he hath givenH5414 thee underH8478 the sunH8121, allH3605 the daysH3117 of thy vanityH1892: for that is thy portionH2506 in lifeH3117, and in thy labour whereinH834 thou labourest underH8478 the sunH8121. 10WhatsoeverH3605 thy handH3027 findeth to doH6213, doH6213 it with thy might; for there is noH369 workH4639, norH369 device, norH369 knowledgeH1847, norH369 wisdomH2451, in the grave, whither thou goest. 11I returnedH7725, and sawH7200 underH8478 the sunH8121, that the raceH4793 is notH3808 to the swiftH7031, norH3808 the battleH4421 to the strongH1368, neitherH3808 yet breadH3899 to the wiseH2450, norH3808 yet richesH6239 to menH1368 of understandingH995, norH3808 yet favour to menH1368 of skill; but fame and chanceH6294 happeneth to them allH3605. 12For manH120 also knoweth notH3808 his time: as the fishes that are takenH270 in an evilH7451 net, and as the birdsH6833 that are caughtH270 in the snareH3369, evenH1571 soH3808, are the sonsH1121 of menH120 snaredH3369 in an evilH7451 time, when it falleth suddenlyH6597 uponH5921 them. 13I have also seenH7200 wisdomH2451 underH8478 the sunH8121 on this wiseH2451, and it seemedH7200 greatH1419 unto meH413: 14There was a littleH4592 cityH5892, and fewH4592 menH376 withinH5921 it; and there cameH935 a greatH1419 kingH4428 againstH5921 it, and besieged it, and builtH1129 greatH1419 bulwarks againstH5921 it: 15NowH120 there was foundH4672 in it a poorH4542 wiseH2450 manH376, and he by his wisdomH2451 deliveredH4422 the cityH5892; yet noH3808 manH376 rememberedH2142 that sameH1931 poorH4542 manH376. 16Then saidH559 I, WisdomH2451 is betterH2896 thanH2896 strengthH1369: nevertheless the poorH4542 man’s wisdomH2451 is despisedH959, and his wordsH1697 are notH369 heardH8085. 17The wordsH1697 of the wiseH2450 spokenH1697 in quiet are heardH8085 more than the cryH2201 of him that ruleth among foolsH3684. 18WisdomH2451 is betterH2896 thanH2896 weaponsH3627 of warH7128: but one sinnerH2398 destroyeth muchH7235 goodH2896.