1 F or 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.

For I have thought of all this, how good and wise men and their works are in the hand of God. Man does not know if love or hate is waiting for them.

2 A ll 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.

It is the same for all. The same thing will happen to both the man who is good and the man who is sinful. The same thing will happen to the clean and the unclean, and to the man who gives a gift on the altar and to the man who does not. As the good man is, so is the sinner. As the man who swears is, so is the one who is afraid to swear.

3 T his 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.

This is a bad thing in all that is done under the sun, that the same thing happens to all men. Also the hearts of men are sinful and crazy all their lives. Then they join the dead.

4 b ut he who is joined to all the living has hope—for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

But there is hope for the one who is among the living. For sure a live dog is better off than a dead lion.

5 F or 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.

For the living know they will die. But the dead know nothing, and they will receive nothing further, for they are forgotten.

6 T heir 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.

Their love and hate and desire have already died. They will no longer have a part in what is done under the sun.

7 G o your way, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already accepted your works.

Go and eat your bread in happiness. Drink your wine with a happy heart. For God has already been pleased with your works.

8 L et your garments be always white, and let your head not lack oil.

Let your clothes be white all the time. And let there always be oil on your head.

9 L ive 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.

Enjoy life with the woman you love all the days of your life that will soon be over. God has given you these days under the sun. This is the good you will get in life and in your work which you have done under the sun.

10 W hatever 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.

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your strength. For there is no work or planning or learning or wisdom in 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.

Again I saw under the sun that the race is not to the fast and the battle to the men of war. Bread is not to the wise and riches are not to the men of understanding. Favor is not to able workers. Time comes and goes and things happen for no reason to them all.

12 F or man also knows not his time: 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 falls suddenly upon them.

Man does not know his time. Like fish caught in a bad net, and birds caught in a trap, so men are trapped at a bad time when trouble comes upon them when they do not expect it. Wisdom Is Better Than Being Foolish

13 T his wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great to me:

I have also seen this as wisdom under the sun, and it made me think.

14 T here 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.

There was a small city with few men in it, and a great king came to it. His army gathered around it and built a large wall to help them in battle against it.

15 B ut there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no man remembered that poor man.

But a poor wise man was found in the city, and he brought the city out of its trouble by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.

16 B ut I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heeded.

So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the wisdom of the poor man is hated and his words are not carried out.

17 T he words of wise men heard in quiet are better than the shouts of him who rules among fools.

The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the loud words of a ruler among fools.

18 W isdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

Wisdom is better than objects used in war, but one sinner destroys much good.