9
1 For
all this I
laid to my
heart, even
to explore all
this: that the
righteous, and the
wise, and their
works, are in
the hand of
God; whether it
is love or hatred,
man doesn’t know
it; all is
before them.
2 All
things come alike to
all. There is
one event to
the righteous and
to the wicked;
to the good,
to the clean,
to the unclean,
to him who
sacrifices, and to
him who doesn’t
sacrifice. As is
the good, so
is the sinner;
he who takes
an oath, as
he who fears
an oath.
3 This
is an evil
in all that
is done under
the sun, that
there is one
event to all.
Yes also, the
heart of the
sons of men
is full of
evil, and madness
is in their
heart while they
live, and after
that they go
to the dead.
4 For
to him who
is joined with all
the living there
is hope; for a
living dog is
better than a
dead lion.
5 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.
6 Also
their love, their
hatred, and their
envy has perished
long ago; neither
do they any
longer have a
portion forever in
anything that is
done under the
sun.
7 Go
your way—eat
your bread with
joy, and drink
your wine with
a merry heart;
for God has
already accepted
your works.
8 Let
your garments be
always white,
and don’t let your
head lack oil.
9 Live
joyfully with the
wife whom you love
all the days
of your life
of vanity, which
he has given
you under the
sun, all your
days of vanity,
for that is
your portion in
life, and in
your labor in
which you labor
under the sun.
10 Whatever
your hand finds
to do, do
it with your
might; for there
is no work,
nor plan, nor
knowledge, nor
wisdom, in
Sheol,
where you are
going.
11 I
returned and saw
under the sun
that the race
is not to
the swift, nor
the battle to
the strong,
neither yet bread
to the wise,
nor yet riches
to men
of understanding, nor
yet favor to
men of skill;
but time and
chance happen to
them all.
12 For
man also doesn’t
know his time.
As the fish
that are taken in
an evil net,
and as the
birds that
are caught in the
snare, even so
are the sons
of men snared
in an evil
time, when it
falls suddenly on
them.
13 I
have also seen
wisdom under the
sun in this way,
and it seemed
great to me.
14 There was
a little city,
and few men
within it; and
a great king
came against it,
besieged it, and
built great
bulwarks against
it.
15 Now a
poor wise man
was found in
it, and he
by his wisdom
delivered the city;
yet no man
remembered that
same poor man.
16 Then
I said, “Wisdom
is better than
strength.” Nevertheless the
poor man’s wisdom
is despised, and
his words are
not heard.
17 The
words of the
wise heard in
quiet are better
than the cry
of him who
rules among fools.
18 Wisdom
is better than
weapons of war; but
one sinner destroys
much good.