Ecclesiastes 9

1  FOR ALL this I took to heart, exploring and examining it all, how the righteous (the upright, in right standing with God) and the wise and their works are in the hands of God. Whether it is to be love or hatred no man knows; all that is before them.2  All things come alike to all. There is one event to the righteous and to the wicked, to the good and to the clean and to the unclean; to him who sacrifices and to him who does not sacrifice. As is the good man, so is the sinner; and he who swears is as he who fears and shuns an oath.3  This evil is in all that is done under the sun: one fate comes to all. Also the hearts of men are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.4  [There is no exemption] but he who is joined to all the living has hope--for a living dog is better than a dead lion.5  For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; and they have no more reward [here], for the memory of them is forgotten.6  Their love and their hatred and their envy have already perished; neither have they any more a share in anything that is done under the sun.7  Go your way, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart [if you are righteous, wise, and in the hands of God], for God has already accepted your works.8  Let your garments be always white [with purity], and let your head not lack [the] oil [of gladness].9  Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun--all the days of futility. For that is your portion in this life and in your work at which you toil under the sun.10  Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol (the place of the dead), 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 is bread to the wise nor riches to men of intelligence and understanding nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all. 12  For man also knows not his time [of death]: as the fishes are taken in an evil net, and as the birds are caught in the snare, so are the sons of men snared in an evil time when [calamity] falls suddenly upon them.13  This [illustration of] wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great to me:14  There was a little city with few men in it. And a great king came against it and besieged it and built great bulwarks against it.15  But there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no man [seriously] remembered that poor man.16  But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heeded.17  The words of wise men heard in quiet are better than the shouts of him who rules among fools.18  Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

Ecclesiastes 9

Chapter 9

Death Comes to All

1 This, too, I carefully explored: Even though the actions of godly and wise people are in God’s hands, no one knows whether God will show them favor.

2 The same destiny ultimately awaits everyone, whether righteous or wicked, good or bad,t ceremonially clean or unclean, religious or irreligious. Good people receive the same treatment as sinners, and people who make promises to God are treated like people who don’t.
3 It seems so tragic that everyone under the sun suffers the same fate. That is why people are not more careful to be good. Instead, they choose their own mad course, for they have no hope. There is nothing ahead but death anyway.

4 There is hope only for the living. As they say, “It’s better to be a live dog than a dead lion!”
5 The living at least know they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, nor are they remembered.6 Whatever they did in their lifetime—loving, hating, envying—is all long gone. They no longer play a part in anything here on earth.7 So go ahead. Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this!

8 Wear fine clothes, with a splash of cologne!
9 Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil.

10 Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave,t there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

11 I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time.

12 People can never predict when hard times might come. Like fish in a net or birds in a trap, people are caught by sudden tragedy.

Thoughts on Wisdom and Folly

13 Here is another bit of wisdom that has impressed me as I have watched the way our world works.14 There was a small town with only a few people, and a great king came with his army and besieged it.15 A poor, wise man knew how to save the town, and so it was rescued. But afterward no one thought to thank him.

16 So even though wisdom is better than strength, those who are wise will be despised if they are poor. What they say will not be appreciated for long.
17 Better to hear the quiet words of a wise person
than the shouts of a foolish king.18 Better to have wisdom than weapons of war,
but one sinner can destroy much that is good.