1
For all this I considered[H5414] in my heart[H3820] even to declare[H952] all this, that the righteous[H6662], and the wise[H2450], and their works[H5652], are in the hand[H3027] of God[H430]: no man[H120]knoweth[H3045]either[H1571]love[H160] or hatred[H8135] by all that is before[H6440] them.
2
All things come alike to all: there is one[H259]event[H4745] to the righteous[H6662], and to the wicked[H7563]; to the good[H2896] and to the clean[H2889], and to the unclean[H2931]; to him that[H834]sacrificeth[H2076], and to him that[H834]sacrificeth[H2076] not: as is the good[H2896], so is the sinner[H2398]; and he that[H834]sweareth[H7650], as he that[H834]feareth[H3373] an oath[H7621].
3
This is an evil[H7451] among all things that are done[H6213] under the sun[H8121], that there is one[H259]event[H4745] unto all: yea, also the heart[H3820] of the sons[H1121] of men[H120] is full[H4390] of evil[H7451], and madness[H1947] is in their heart[H3824] while they live[H2416], and after[H310] that they go to the dead[H4191].
4For[H4310] to him that is[H3426]joined[H2266] to all the living[H2416] there is[H3426]hope[H986]: for[H4310] a living[H2416]dog[H3611]is[H3426]better[H2896] than a dead[H4191]lion[H738].
5
For the living[H2416]know[H3045] that they shall die[H4191]: but the dead[H4191]know[H3045] not any thing[H3972], neither have they any more a reward[H7939]; for the memory[H2143] of them is forgotten[H7911].
6
Also their love[H160], and their hatred[H8135], and their envy[H7068], is now[H3528]perished[H6]; neither have they any more a portion[H2506] for ever[H5769] in any thing that is done[H6213] under the sun[H8121].
7
Go thy way[H3212], eat[H398] thy bread[H3899] with joy[H8057], and drink[H8354] thy wine[H3196] with a merry[H2896]heart[H3820]; for God[H430]now[H3528]accepteth[H7521] thy works[H4639].
8
Let thy garments[H899] be always[H6256]white[H3836]; and let thy head[H7218]lack[H2637] no ointment[H8081].
9Live[H2416]joyfully[H7200] with the wife[H802] whom thou lovest[H157] all the days[H3117] of the life[H2416] of thy vanity[H1892], which he hath given[H5414] thee under the sun[H8121], all the days[H3117] of thy vanity[H1892]: for that is thy portion[H2506] in this life[H2416], and in thy labour[H5999] which thou takest[H6001] under the sun[H8121].
10
Whatsoever thy hand[H3027]findeth[H4672] to do[H6213], do[H6213] it with thy might[H3581]; for there is no work[H4639], nor device[H2808], nor knowledge[H1847], nor wisdom[H2451], in the grave[H7585], whither thou goest[H1980].
11
I returned[H7725], and saw[H7200] under the sun[H8121], that the race[H4793] is not to the swift[H7031], nor the battle[H4421] to the strong[H1368], neither yet bread[H3899] to the wise[H2450], nor yet riches[H6239] to men of understanding[H995], nor yet favour[H2580] to men of skill[H3045]; but time[H6256] and chance[H6294]happeneth[H7136] to them all.
12
For man[H120] also knoweth[H3045] not his time[H6256]: as the fishes[H1709] that are taken[H270] in an evil[H7451]net[H4685], and as the birds[H6833] that are caught[H270] in the snare[H6341]; so[H1992] are the sons[H1121] of men[H120]snared[H3369] in an evil[H7451]time[H6256], when it falleth[H5307]suddenly[H6597] upon them.
13This[H2090]wisdom[H2451] have I seen[H7200] also under the sun[H8121], and it seemed great[H1419] unto me:
14
There was a little[H6996]city[H5892], and few[H4592]men[H582] within it; and there came[H935] a great[H1419]king[H4428] against it, and besieged[H5437] it, and built[H1129]great[H1419]bulwarks[H4685] against it:
15
Now there was found[H4672] in it a poor[H4542]wise[H2450]man[H376], and he by his wisdom[H2451]delivered[H4422] the city[H5892]; yet no man[H120]remembered[H2142] that same poor[H4542]man[H120].
16
Then said[H559] I, Wisdom[H2451] is better[H2896] than strength[H1369]: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom[H2451] is despised[H959], and his words[H1697] are not heard[H8085].
17
The words[H1697] of wise[H2450] men are heard[H8085] in quiet[H5183] more than the cry[H2201] of him that ruleth[H4910] among fools[H3684].
18Wisdom[H2451] is better[H2896] than weapons[H3627] of war[H7128]: but one[H259]sinner[H2398]destroyeth[H6]much[H7235]good[H2896].