For all this I laid{H5414} to my heart,{H3820} even to explore{H952} all this: that the righteous,{H6662} and the wise,{H2450} and their works,{H5652} are in the hand{H3027} of God;{H430} whether it be love{H160} or{H1571} hatred,{H8135} man{H120} knoweth{H3045} it not; all is before{H6440} them.

All things come alike to all: there is one{H259} event{H4745} to the righteous{H6662} and to the wicked;{H7563} to the good{H2896} and to the clean{H2889} and to the unclean;{H2931} to him that sacrificeth{H2076} and to him that{H834} sacrificeth{H2076} not; as is the good,{H2896} so is the sinner;{H2398} [and] he that sweareth,{H7650} as he that feareth{H3373} an oath.{H7621}

This is an evil{H7451} in all that is done{H6213} under the sun,{H8121} that there is one{H259} event{H4745} unto all: yea also, the heart{H3820} of the sons{H1121} of men{H120} is full{H4390} of evil,{H7451} and madness{H1947} is in their heart{H3824} while they live,{H2416} and after{H310} that [they go] to the dead.{H4191}

For{H4310} to him that is{H3426} joined{H2266} with all the living{H2416} there is hope;{H986} for a living{H2416} dog{H3611} is better{H2896} than a dead{H4191} lion.{H738}

For the living{H2416} know{H3045} that they shall die:{H4191} but the dead{H4191} know{H3045} not anything,{H3972} neither have they any more a reward;{H7939} for the memory{H2143} of them is forgotten.{H7911}

As well their love,{H160} as their hatred{H8135} and their envy,{H7068} is perished{H6} long ago;{H3528} neither have they any more a portion{H2506} for ever{H5769} in anything that is done{H6213} under the sun.{H8121}

Go thy way,{H3212} eat{H398} thy bread{H3899} with joy,{H8057} and drink{H8354} thy wine{H3196} with a merry{H2896} heart;{H3820} for God{H430} hath already{H3528} accepted{H7521} thy works.{H4639}

Let thy garments{H899} be always{H6256} white;{H3836} and let not thy head{H7218} lack{H2637} oil.{H8081}

Live{H2416} joyfully{H7200} with the wife{H802} whom thou lovest{H157} all the days{H3117} of thy life{H2416} of vanity,{H1892} which he hath given{H5414} thee under the sun,{H8121} all thy days{H3117} of vanity:{H1892} for that is thy portion{H2506} in life,{H2416} and in thy labor{H5999} wherein thou laborest{H6001} under the sun.{H8121}

Whatsoever thy hand{H3027} findeth{H4672} to do,{H6213} do{H6213} [it] with thy might;{H3581} for there is no work,{H4639} nor device,{H2808} nor knowledge,{H1847} nor wisdom,{H2451} in Sheol,{H7585} whither thou goest.{H1980}

I returned,{H7725} and saw{H7200} under the sun,{H8121} that the race{H4793} is not to the swift,{H7031} nor the battle{H4421} to the strong,{H1368} neither yet bread{H3899} to the wise,{H2450} nor yet riches{H6239} to men of understanding,{H995} nor yet favor{H2580} to men of skill;{H3045} but time{H6256} and chance{H6294} happeneth{H7136} to them all.

For man{H120} also knoweth{H3045} not his time:{H6256} as the fishes{H1709} that are taken{H270} in an evil{H7451} net,{H4685} and as the birds{H6833} that are caught{H270} in the snare,{H6341} even so{H1992} are the sons{H1121} of men{H120} snared{H3369} in an evil{H7451} time,{H6256} when it falleth{H5307} suddenly{H6597} upon them.

I have also seen{H7200} wisdom{H2451} under the sun{H8121} on this{H2090} wise, and it seemed great{H1419} unto me:

There was a little{H6996} city,{H5892} and few{H4592} men{H582} within it; and there came{H935} a great{H1419} king{H4428} against it, and besieged{H5437} it, and built{H1129} great{H1419} bulwarks{H4685} against it.

Now there was found{H4672} in it a poor{H4542} wise{H2450} man,{H376} and he by his wisdom{H2451} delivered{H4422} the city;{H5892} yet no man{H120} remembered{H2142} that same poor{H4542} man.{H376}

Then said{H559} I, Wisdom{H2451} is better{H2896} than strength:{H1369} nevertheless the poor man's{H4542} wisdom{H2451} is despised,{H959} and his words{H1697} are not heard.{H8085}

The words{H1697} of the wise{H2450} heard{H8085} in quiet{H5183} are better than the cry{H2201} of him that ruleth{H4910} among fools.{H3684}

Wisdom{H2451} is better{H2896} than weapons{H3627} of war;{H7128} but one{H259} sinner{H2398} destroyeth{H6} much{H7235} good.{H2896}