Eccl.9.1
For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.
Eccl.9.1
Well, I took all this in and thought it through, inside and out. Here's what I understood: The good, the wise, and all that they do are in God's hands--but, day by day, whether it's love or hate they're dealing with, they don't know. Anything's possible.
Eccl.9.1
So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God's hands, but no man knows whether love or hate awaits him.
Eccl.9.1
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.
Eccl.9.1
This, too, I carefully explored: Even though the actions of godly and wise people are in God's hands, no one knows whether or not God will show them favor in this life.
Eccl.9.2
All things come alike to all: there is 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; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.
Eccl.9.2
It's one fate for everybody--righteous and wicked, good people, bad people, the nice and the nasty, worshipers and non-worshipers, committed and uncommitted.
Eccl.9.2
All share a common destiny-the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not. As it is with the good man, so with the sinner; as it is with those who take oaths, so with those who are afraid to take them.
Eccl.9.2
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.
Eccl.9.2
The same destiny ultimately awaits everyone, whether they are righteous or wicked, good or bad, ceremonially clean or unclean, religious or irreligious. Good people receive the same treatment as sinners, and people who take oaths are treated like people who don't.
Eccl.9.3
This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, 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.
Eccl.9.3
I find this outrageous--the worst thing about living on this earth--that everyone's lumped together in one fate. Is it any wonder that so many people are obsessed with evil? Is it any wonder that people go crazy right and left? Life leads to death. That's it.
Eccl.9.3
This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of men, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead.
Eccl.9.3
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.
Eccl.9.3
It seems so tragic that one fate comes to all. That is why people are not more careful to be good. Instead, they choose their own mad course, for they have no hope. There is nothing ahead but death anyway.
Eccl.9.4
For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
Eccl.9.4
Still, anyone selected out for life has hope, for, as they say, "A living dog is better than a dead lion."
Eccl.9.4
Anyone who is among the living has hope -even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!
Eccl.9.4
But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
Eccl.9.4
There is hope only for the living. For as they say, "It is better to be a live dog than a dead lion!"
Eccl.9.5
For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
Eccl.9.5
The living at least know something, even if it's only that they're going to die. But the dead know nothing and get nothing. They're a minus that no one remembers.
Eccl.9.5
For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even the memory of them is forgotten.
Eccl.9.5
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.
Eccl.9.5
The living at least know they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, nor are they remembered.
Eccl.9.6
Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.
Eccl.9.6
Their loves, their hates, yes, even their dreams, are long gone. There's not a trace of them left in the affairs of this earth.
Eccl.9.6
Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun.
Eccl.9.6
Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun.
Eccl.9.6
Whatever they did in their lifetime--loving, hating, envying--is all long gone. They no longer have a part in anything here on earth.
Eccl.9.7
Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.
Eccl.9.7
Seize life! Eat bread with gusto, Drink wine with a robust heart. Oh yes--God takes pleasure in your pleasure!
Eccl.9.7
Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do.
Eccl.9.7
Go, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works.
Eccl.9.7
So go ahead. Eat your food and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this!
Eccl.9.8
Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.
Eccl.9.8
Dress festively every morning. Don't skimp on colors and scarves.
Eccl.9.8
Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil.
Eccl.9.8
Let your garments always be white, And let your head lack no oil.
Eccl.9.8
Wear fine clothes, with a dash of cologne!
Eccl.9.9
Live joyfully 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 this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.
Eccl.9.9
Relish life with the spouse you love Each and every day of your precarious life. Each day is God's gift. It's all you get in exchange For the hard work of staying alive. Make the most of each one!
Eccl.9.9
Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun- all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun.
Eccl.9.9
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.
Eccl.9.9
Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you in this world. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil.
Eccl.9.10
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
Eccl.9.10
Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily! This is your last and only chance at it, For there's neither work to do nor thoughts to think In the company of the dead, where you're most certainly headed. [JC]
Eccl.9.10
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
Eccl.9.10
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.
Eccl.9.10
Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.
Eccl.9.11
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 favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
Eccl.9.11
I took another walk around the neighborhood and realized that on this earth as it is--The race is not always to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor satisfaction to the wise, Nor riches to the smart, Nor grace to the learned. Sooner or later bad luck hits us all.
Eccl.9.11
I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.
Eccl.9.11
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.
Eccl.9.11
I have observed something else in this world of ours. The fastest runner doesn't always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn't always win the battle. The wise are often poor, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don't always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being at the right place at the right time.
Eccl.9.12
For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
Eccl.9.12
No one can predict misfortune. Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds in a trap, So men and women are caught By accidents evil and sudden.
Eccl.9.12
Moreover, no man knows when his hour will come: As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so men are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them.
Eccl.9.12
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.
Eccl.9.12
People can never predict when hard times might come. Like fish in a net or birds in a snare, people are often caught by sudden tragedy.
Eccl.9.13
This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me:
Eccl.9.13
One day as I was observing how wisdom fares on this earth, I saw something that made me sit up and take notice.
Eccl.9.13
I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed me:
Eccl.9.13
This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed great to me:
Eccl.9.13
Here is another bit of wisdom that has impressed me as I have watched the way our world works.
Eccl.9.14
There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:
Eccl.9.14
There was a small town with only a few people in it. A strong king came and mounted an attack, building trenches and attack posts around it.
Eccl.9.14
There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siegeworks against it.
Eccl.9.14
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.
Eccl.9.14
There was a small town with only a few people living in it, and a great king came with his army and besieged it.
Eccl.9.15
Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
Eccl.9.15
There was a poor but wise man in that town whose wisdom saved the town, but he was promptly forgotten. (He was only a poor man, after all.)
Eccl.9.15
Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man.
Eccl.9.15
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.
Eccl.9.15
There was a poor, wise man living there who knew how to save the town, and so it was rescued. But afterward no one thought any more about him.
Eccl.9.16
Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
Eccl.9.16
All the same, I still say that wisdom is better than muscle, even though the wise poor man was treated with contempt and soon forgotten.
Eccl.9.16
So I said, "Wisdom is better than strength." But the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.
Eccl.9.16
Then I said: "Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, And his words are not heard.
Eccl.9.16
Then I realized that though wisdom is better than strength, those who are wise will be despised if they are poor. What they say will not be appreciated for long.
Eccl.9.17
The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.
Eccl.9.17
The quiet words of the wise are more effective Than the ranting of a king of fools.
Eccl.9.17
The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools.
Eccl.9.17
Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools.
Eccl.9.17
But even so, the quiet words of a wise person are better than the shouts of a foolish king.
Eccl.9.18
Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.
Eccl.9.18
Wisdom is better than warheads, But one hothead can ruin the good earth.
Eccl.9.18
Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
Eccl.9.18
Wisdom is better than weapons of war; But one sinner destroys much good."
Eccl.9.18
A wise person can overcome weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much that is good.
