Ecclesiastes 9

1 For I considered all this in my heart, so that I could declare it all: that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God. People know neither love nor hatred by anything they see before them.2 All things come alike to all: One event happens to the righteous and the wicked; To the good, the clean, and the unclean; To him who sacrifices and him who does not 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 one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.4 But for him who is joined to 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 know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten.6 Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun.7 Go, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works.8 Let your garments always be white, And let your head lack no oil.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 your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun.10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave 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, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.12 For man also does not know his time: Like fish taken in a cruel net, Like birds caught in a snare, So the sons of men are snared in an evil time, When it falls suddenly upon them.

Wisdom Superior to Folly

13 This wisdom I have also seen 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, besieged it, and built great snares around it.15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man.16 Then I said: Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor mans wisdom is despised, And his words are not heard.17 Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools.18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war; But one sinner destroys much good.

ECCLESIASTES 9

One Day at a Time

1 I thought about these things. Then I understood that God has power over everyone, even those who are wise and live right. Anything can happen to any one of us, and so we never know if life will be good or bad.t

2 But exactlyt the same thing will finally happen to all of us, whether we live right and respect God or sin and don't respect God. Yes, the same thing will happen if we offer sacrifices to God or if we don't, if we keep our promises or are afraid to make them.
3 It's terribly unfair for the same thing to happen to each of us. We are mean and foolish while we live, and then we die. 4 As long as we are alive, we still have hope, just as a live dog is better off than a dead lion. 5 We know we will die, but the dead don't know a thing. Nothing good will happen to them—they are gone and forgotten.

6 Their loves, their hates, and their jealous feelings have all disappeared with them. They will never again take part in anything that happens on this earth.
7 So be happy and enjoy eating and drinking! God decided long ago that this is what you should do. 8 Dress up, comb your hair, and look your best. 9 Life is short, and you love your wife, so enjoy being with her. This is what you are supposed to do as you struggle through life on this earth.

10 Work hard at whatever you do. You will soon go to the world of the dead, where no one works or thinks or reasons or even knows anything.

11 Here is something else I have learned:
The fastest runners
and the greatest heroes
don't always win races
and battles.
Wisdom, intelligence, and skill
don't always make you healthy,
rich, or popular.
We each have our own share
of misfortune.

12 None of us know when we might fall victim to a sudden disaster and find ourselves like fish in a net or birds in a trap.

Better To Be Wise //than Foolish

16 So I decided that wisdom is better than strength. Yet if you are poor, no one pays any attention to you, no matter how smart you are.

17 Words of wisdom spoken softly
make much more sense
than the shouts of a ruler
to a crowd of fools.

18 Wisdom is more powerful
than weapons,
yet one mistake can destroy
all the good you have done.