1 F or 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.

For I have taken all this to my heart and explain it that righteous men, wise men, and their deeds are in the hand of God. Man does not know whether it will be love or hatred; anything awaits him.

2 I t 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.

It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked; for the good, for the clean and for the unclean; for the man who offers a sacrifice and for the one who does not sacrifice. As the good man is, so is the sinner; as the swearer is, so is the one who is afraid to swear.

3 T his 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.

This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for all men. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they go to the dead.

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

For whoever is joined with all the living, there is hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion.

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

For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward, for their memory is forgotten.

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

Indeed their love, their hate and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a share in all that is done under the sun.

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

Go then, eat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works.

8 L et your clothes be white all the time. And let there always be oil on your head.

Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking on your head.

9 E njoy 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.

Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun. Whatever Your Hand Finds to Do

10 W hatever 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.

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.

11 A gain 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.

I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all.

12 M an 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

Moreover, man does not know his time: like fish caught in a treacherous net and birds trapped in a snare, so the sons of men are ensnared at an evil time when it suddenly falls on them.

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

Also this I came to see as wisdom under the sun, and it impressed me.

14 T here 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.

There was a small city with few men in it and a great king came to it, surrounded it and constructed large siegeworks against it.

15 B ut 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.

But there was found in it a poor wise man and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.

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

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

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

The words of the wise heard in quietness are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.

18 W isdom is better than objects used in war, but one sinner destroys much good.

Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.