Ecclesiastes 9

1For I took all this to heart and examined it all: the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, no one knows; everything lies ahead of them.

2It is the same for all: one fate comes to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to the one who sacrifices and the one who does not sacrifice. As it is with the good, so it is with the sinner; as it is with the one who swears an oath, so it is with the one who is afraid to swear.

3This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one fate comes to all. Moreover, the hearts of human beings are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

4But whoever is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

5For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.

6Their love, their hate, and their envy have already perished, and never again will they have any share in all that is done under the sun.

7Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a glad heart, for God has already approved what you do.

8Let your clothes always be white, and do not let your head lack oil.

9Enjoy life with the wife you love, all the days of your fleeting life that he has given you under the sun—all your fleeting days—for that is your share in life and in the toil at which you toil under the sun.

10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, where you are going.

11Again I saw under the sun that the race does not go to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the discerning, nor favor to the skillful; for time and chance happen to them all.

12For people do not know their time. Like fish caught in a cruel net, and like birds caught in a snare, so human beings are trapped at an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them.

13I also saw this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me:

14There was a small city with few people in it, and a great king came against it, surrounded it, and built great siege works against it.

15Now there was found in it a poor, wise man, and by his wisdom he delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man.

16So I said that wisdom is better than strength, yet the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heeded.

17The quiet words of the wise are better heeded than the shouting of a ruler among fools.

18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.