Ecclesiastes 9

1For all this I applied my heart to, even to declare all this: that the righteous, the wise, and their works are in God's hand; no one knows whether love or hatred—everything lies before them.

2Everything happens the same to everyone: one fate overtakes the righteous and the wicked, the good and the pure and the unclean, whoever sacrifices and whoever does not sacrifice, just as the good, so the sinner, the one who swears an oath, so the one who fears an oath.

3This is evil in all that is done under the sun: one event befalls everyone. Indeed, the hearts of humankind brim with evil and madness while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

4For whoever chooses is joined to all the living; there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

5For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, nor any more reward for them, for their remembrance is forgotten.

6Their love, their hatred, and their envy have already perished, and they have no portion ever again in anything done under the sun.

7Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already approved your works.

8Let your garments be white at all times, and let oil never lack on your head.

9Enjoy life with the wife you love, all the days of your vain life which he has given you under the sun—all the days of your vanity—for that is your portion in life and in your labor which you perform under the sun.

10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your strength; for there is no deed, no plan, no knowledge, no wisdom in Sheol, where you are going.

11I returned and saw under the sun that there is no race for the swift, no battle for the mighty, no bread for the wise, no riches for the discerning, no favor for those who know; time and chance befall them all.

12For even a person does not know his time—like fish seized in an adverse net and birds caught in a snare, so sons of men are snared in an adverse moment when it falls suddenly upon them.

13I also saw this wisdom under the sun, and it was great to me.

14There was a small city with few men in it, and a great king came against it, surrounded it, and built great fortifications against it.

15A poor wise man was found there, and he delivered the city through his wisdom, yet no one remembered that poor man.

16I said, Better is wisdom than strength, yet the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words go unheard.

17The words of the wise are heard quietly more than the cry of a ruler among fools.

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