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 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 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.

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 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 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 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.

But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living 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 that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them 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.

Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything 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, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works.

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

Let your garments always be white, And let your head lack no oil.

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.

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 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 your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave 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 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 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

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

This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed great to 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 little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around 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.

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 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.

Then I said: “Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, And his words are not heard.

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

Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard Rather than the shout of a ruler of 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.”