Ecclesiastes 9

For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.

1I thought hard about all of this. Good people and wise people are in God's hands. So is everything they do. But no one knows what is coming, love or hate.

2All 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 that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

2The same end comes to everyone. Good people die, and bad people die. So do the people who keep the rules about being clean, and the people who do not. It happens to the one who brings gifts to God and the one who does not. The good person and the sinner both die. So do the one who makes promises to God and the one who refuses.

Note"Clean" and "unclean" here are about the rules for worship in Israel, not about being dirty.

3This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, 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.

3Here is a sad thing about everything done here on earth. The same end comes to every person. People's hearts are also full of evil. Wild, foolish thoughts fill them while they are alive. Then they join the dead.

4For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

4Anyone who is still alive has hope. A living dog is better than a dead lion.

NoteBack then, dogs were seen as low animals, and lions were seen as strong and grand.

5For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

5The living know that they will die. The dead know nothing at all. They get nothing more for what they did. Even the memory of them is forgotten.

6Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

6Their love, their hate, and their jealousy are all gone now. They will never again share in anything done here on earth.

7Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.

7So go on your way. Eat your food and be glad. Drink your wine with a happy heart. God has already said yes to what you do.

8Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.

8Always wear your white clothes. Always keep sweet-smelling oil on your head.

NoteWhite clothes and sweet oil on the head were how people dressed for a happy feast.

9Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.

9Enjoy life with the wife you love. Enjoy all the short days God has given you here on earth. Your life passes quickly. This is your share in life and in your hard work.

10Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your strength. In the grave, where you are going, there is no work. There is no planning, no knowing, and no wisdom.

11I 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 favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

11I looked again at life here on earth. The fastest runner does not always win the race. The strongest fighter does not always win the battle. Wise people do not always have food. Clever people do not always get rich. Skilled people are not always liked. Time and chance happen to everyone.

12For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.

12No one knows when his time will come. Fish get caught in a cruel net. Birds get caught in a trap. People get caught the same way when bad times come. Those times fall on them all at once.

13This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me:

13I also saw this wise thing here on earth, and it seemed great to me.

14There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:

14There was a small city with only a few people in it. A powerful king came to attack it. He surrounded it and built big ramps against its walls.

15Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.

15A poor wise man lived in that city. His wisdom saved the whole city. But no one remembered that poor man.

16Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

16So I said, wisdom is better than strength. Still, people look down on a poor man's wisdom. They do not listen to his words.

17The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

17People listen more to the calm words of wise men. They listen less to a ruler shouting among fools.

18Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

18Wisdom is better than weapons of war. But one sinner ruins much good.