1 F or all this I laid to my heart, even to explore all this: that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God; whether it is love or hatred, man doesn’t know it; all 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, to the clean, to the unclean, to him who sacrifices, and to him who doesn’t sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; he who takes an oath, as he who fears 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 is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event to all: yes 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.

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 F or to him who is joined with all the living there is 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 don’t know anything, neither do they have any more a reward; for their memory 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 A lso their love, their hatred, and their envy has perished long ago; neither have they any more a portion forever 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 merry 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 don’t let your head 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 life of vanity, which he has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity: for that is your portion in life, and in your labor in which you labor 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 your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, 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 yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet 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 doesn’t know his time. As the fish that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, even so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly on 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 I have also seen wisdom under the sun in this way, 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, and few men within it; and a great king came against it, 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 N ow a poor wise man was found in it, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same 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 T hen I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

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 the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry 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.