1 B ut all this I have laid unto my heart, so as to clear up the whole of this, that the righteous and the wise, and their works, in the hand of God, neither love nor hatred doth man know, the whole before them.

For all this I laid to my heart and to investigate all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God; man knoweth neither love nor hatred: all is before them.

2 T he whole as to the whole; one event is to the righteous and to the wicked, to the good, and to the clean, and to the unclean, and to him who is sacrificing, and to him who is not sacrificing; as the good, so the sinner, he who is swearing as he who is fearing an oath.

All things alike to all: 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; he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

3 T his an evil among all that hath been done under the sun, that one event to all, and also the heart of the sons of man is full of evil, and madness in their heart during their life, and after it -- unto the dead.

This is an evil among all that is done under the sun, that one thing befalleth all: yea, also the heart of the children of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live; and after that, to the dead.

4 B ut him who is joined unto all the living there is confidence, for to a living dog it better than to the dead lion.

For to him that 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 that they die, and the dead know not anything, and there is no more to them a reward, for their remembrance hath been forgotten.

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

6 T heir love also, their hatred also, their envy also, hath already perished, and they have no more a portion to the age in all that hath been done under the sun.

Their love also, and their hatred, and their envy is already perished; neither have they any more for ever a portion in all that is done under the sun.

7 G o, eat with joy thy bread, and drink with a glad heart thy wine, for already hath God been pleased with thy works.

Go, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God hath already accepted thy works.

8 A t all times let thy garments be white, and let not perfume be lacking on thy head.

Let thy garments be always white, and let not thy head lack oil.

9 S ee life with the wife whom thou hast loved, all the days of the life of thy vanity, that He hath given to thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity, for it thy portion in life, even of thy labour that thou art labouring at under the sun.

Enjoy life 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 life, and in thy labour wherein thou art labouring under the sun.

10 A ll that thy hand findeth to do, with thy power do, for there is no work, and device, and knowledge, and wisdom in Sheol whither thou art going.

Whatever thy hand findeth to do, do with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, whither thou goest.

11 I have turned so as to see under the sun, that not to the swift the race, nor to the mighty the battle, nor even to the wise bread, nor even to the intelligent wealth, nor even to the skilful grace, for time and chance happen with them all.

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 the intelligent, nor yet favour to men of knowledge; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

12 F or even man knoweth not his time; as fish that are taken hold of by an evil net, and as birds that are taken hold of by a snare, like these the sons of man snared at an evil time, when it falleth upon them suddenly.

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

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

This also have I seen as wisdom under the sun, and it was great unto me.

14 A little city, and few men in it, and a great king hath come unto it, and hath surrounded it, and hath built against it great bulwarks;

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

15 a nd there hath been found in it a poor wise man, and he hath delivered the city by his wisdom, and men have not remembered that poor man!

and there was found in it a poor wise man, who by his wisdom delivered the city; but no man remembered that poor man.

16 A nd I said, `Better wisdom than might, and the wisdom of the poor is despised, and his words are not heard.' --

Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength; but the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

17 T he words of the wise in quiet are heard, More than the cry of a ruler over fools.

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

18 B etter wisdom than weapons of conflict, And one sinner destroyeth much good!

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