New American Standard Bible

New King James Version

Men Are in the Hand of God

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.

1

Death Comes to All

For I [a]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

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.

2

All things come alike to all:
One event happens to the righteous and the wicked;
To the [b]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

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.

3

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

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

4

But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

5

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.

5

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

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.

6

Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished;
Nevermore will they have a share
In anything done under the sun.

7

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

7

Go, eat your bread with joy,
And drink your wine with a merry heart;
For God has already accepted your works.

8

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

8

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

9

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.

9

[c]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

Whatever Your Hand Finds to Do

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.

10

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

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.

11

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

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.

12

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.

13

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

13

Wisdom Superior to Folly

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

14

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.

14

There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great [d]snares around it.

15

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.

15

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

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

16

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

17

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

17

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

18

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

18

Wisdom is better than weapons of war;
But one sinner destroys much good.”

Parallel

New American Standard Bible

New King James Version

Ecclesiastes 9

Ecclesiastes 9