1 For all this I considered|strong="H5414" in my heart|strong="H3820" even to declare|strong="H0952" all this, that the righteous|strong="H6662", and the wise|strong="H2450", and their works|strong="H5652", are in the hand|strong="H3027" of God|strong="H0430": no man|strong="H0120" knoweth|strong="H3045" either|strong="H1571" love|strong="H0160" or hatred|strong="H8135" by all that is before|strong="H6440" them.
2 All things come alike to all: there is one|strong="H0259" event|strong="H4745" to the righteous|strong="H6662", and to the wicked|strong="H7563"; to the good|strong="H2896" and to the clean|strong="H2889", and to the unclean|strong="H2931"; to him that sacrificeth|strong="H2076", and to him that|strong="H0834" sacrificeth|strong="H2076" not: as is the good|strong="H2896", so is the sinner|strong="H2398"; and he that sweareth|strong="H7650", as he that feareth|strong="H3373" an oath|strong="H7621".
3 This is an evil|strong="H7451" among all things that are done|strong="H6213" under the sun|strong="H8121", that there is one|strong="H0259" event|strong="H4745" unto all: yea, also the heart|strong="H3820" of the sons|strong="H1121" of men|strong="H0120" is full|strong="H4390" of evil|strong="H7451", and madness|strong="H1947" is in their heart|strong="H3824" while they live|strong="H2416", and after|strong="H0310" that they go to the dead|strong="H4191".
4 For|strong="H4310" to him that is|strong="H3426" joined|strong="H2266" to all the living|strong="H2416" there is hope|strong="H0986": for a living|strong="H2416" dog|strong="H3611" is better|strong="H2896" than a dead|strong="H4191" lion|strong="H0738".
5 For the living|strong="H2416" know|strong="H3045" that they shall die|strong="H4191": but the dead|strong="H4191" know|strong="H3045" not any thing|strong="H3972", neither have they any more a reward|strong="H7939"; for the memory|strong="H2143" of them is forgotten|strong="H7911".
6 Also their love|strong="H0160", and their hatred|strong="H8135", and their envy|strong="H7068", is now|strong="H3528" perished|strong="H0006"; neither have they any more a portion|strong="H2506" for ever|strong="H5769" in any thing that is done|strong="H6213" under the sun|strong="H8121".
7 Go thy way|strong="H3212", eat|strong="H0398" thy bread|strong="H3899" with joy|strong="H8057", and drink|strong="H8354" thy wine|strong="H3196" with a merry|strong="H2896" heart|strong="H3820"; for God|strong="H0430" now|strong="H3528" accepteth|strong="H7521" thy works|strong="H4639".
8 Let thy garments|strong="H0899" be always|strong="H6256" white|strong="H3836"; and let thy head|strong="H7218" lack|strong="H2637" no ointment|strong="H8081".
9 Live|strong="H2416" joyfully|strong="H7200" with the wife|strong="H0802" whom thou lovest|strong="H0157" all the days|strong="H3117" of the life|strong="H2416" of thy vanity|strong="H1892", which he hath given|strong="H5414" thee under the sun|strong="H8121", all the days|strong="H3117" of thy vanity|strong="H1892": for that is thy portion|strong="H2506" in this life|strong="H2416", and in thy labour|strong="H5999" which thou takest|strong="H6001" under the sun|strong="H8121".
10 Whatsoever thy hand|strong="H3027" findeth|strong="H4672" to do|strong="H6213", do|strong="H6213" it with thy might|strong="H3581"; for there is no work|strong="H4639", nor device|strong="H2808", nor knowledge|strong="H1847", nor wisdom|strong="H2451", in the grave|strong="H7585", whither thou goest|strong="H1980".
11 I returned|strong="H7725", and saw|strong="H7200" under the sun|strong="H8121", that the race|strong="H4793" is not to the swift|strong="H7031", nor the battle|strong="H4421" to the strong|strong="H1368", neither yet bread|strong="H3899" to the wise|strong="H2450", nor yet riches|strong="H6239" to men of understanding|strong="H0995", nor yet favour|strong="H2580" to men of skill|strong="H3045"; but time|strong="H6256" and chance|strong="H6294" happeneth|strong="H7136" to them all.
12 For man|strong="H0120" also knoweth|strong="H3045" not his time|strong="H6256": as the fishes|strong="H1709" that are taken|strong="H0270" in an evil|strong="H7451" net|strong="H4685", and as the birds|strong="H6833" that are caught|strong="H0270" in the snare|strong="H6341"; so|strong="H1992" are the sons|strong="H1121" of men|strong="H0120" snared|strong="H3369" in an evil|strong="H7451" time|strong="H6256", when it falleth|strong="H5307" suddenly|strong="H6597" upon them.
13 This|strong="H2090" wisdom|strong="H2451" have I seen|strong="H7200" also under the sun|strong="H8121", and it seemed great|strong="H1419" unto me:
14 There was a little|strong="H6996" city|strong="H5892", and few|strong="H4592" men|strong="H0582" within it; and there came|strong="H0935" a great|strong="H1419" king|strong="H4428" against it, and besieged|strong="H5437" it, and built|strong="H1129" great|strong="H1419" bulwarks|strong="H4685" against it:
15 Now there was found|strong="H4672" in it a poor|strong="H4542" wise|strong="H2450" man|strong="H0376", and he by his wisdom|strong="H2451" delivered|strong="H4422" the city|strong="H5892"; yet no man|strong="H0120" remembered|strong="H2142" that same poor|strong="H4542" man|strong="H0376".
16 Then said|strong="H0559" I, Wisdom|strong="H2451" is better|strong="H2896" than strength|strong="H1369": nevertheless the poor man’s|strong="H4542" wisdom|strong="H2451" is despised|strong="H0959", and his words|strong="H1697" are not heard|strong="H8085".
17 The words|strong="H1697" of wise|strong="H2450" men are heard|strong="H8085" in quiet|strong="H5183" more than the cry|strong="H2201" of him that ruleth|strong="H4910" among fools|strong="H3684".
18 Wisdom|strong="H2451" is better|strong="H2896" than weapons|strong="H3627" of war|strong="H7128": but one|strong="H0259" sinner|strong="H2398" destroyeth|strong="H0006" much|strong="H7235" good|strong="H2896".