Ecclesiastes 9:10

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

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

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

כֹּ֠ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר תִּמְצָ֧א יָֽדְךָ֛ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת בְּכֹחֲךָ֖ עֲשֵׂ֑ה כִּי֩ אֵ֨ין מַעֲשֶׂ֤ה וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן֙ וְדַ֣עַת וְחָכְמָ֔ה בִּשְׁא֕וֹל אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתָּ֖ה הֹלֵ֥ךְ שָֽׁמָּה׃

Transliteration

All that timṣāʾ yādĕkā to-laʿăśôt in-kōḥăkā ʿăśēh; for not maʿăśeh and-ḥešbôn and-daʿat and-ḥokmâ in-šĕʾôl that you hōlēk there.

Grammar Details

• *timṣāʾ*: verb, qal imperfect, 2nd person masculine singular - you find
• *yādĕkā*: noun, feminine singular with 2nd person masculine singular suffix - your hand
• *laʿăśôt*: verb, qal infinitive construct with preposition - to do
• *kōḥăkā*: noun, masculine singular with 2nd person masculine singular suffix - your strength
• *ʿăśēh*: verb, qal imperative, masculine singular - do
• *maʿăśeh*: noun, masculine singular - work/deed
• *ḥešbôn*: noun, masculine singular - reckoning/account
• *daʿat*: noun, feminine singular - knowledge
• *ḥokmâ*: noun, feminine singular - wisdom
• *šĕʾôl*: noun, feminine singular - Sheol/grave
• *hōlēk*: verb, qal participle, masculine singular - going

Word Meanings

• *timṣāʾ yādĕkā*: your hand finds/you are able/you have opportunity
• *laʿăśôt*: to do/to perform/to accomplish
• *kōḥăkā*: your strength/your power/your ability
• *ʿăśēh*: do/perform/accomplish
• *maʿăśeh*: work/deed/activity/action
• *ḥešbôn*: reckoning/account/reasoning/planning
• *daʿat*: knowledge/understanding/perception
• *ḥokmâ*: wisdom/skill/intelligence
• *šĕʾôl*: Sheol/grave/realm of the dead
• *hōlēk šāmmâ*: going there/headed there

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave where you go.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  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}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Whatsoever thy hand{H3027} findeth{H4672}{(H8799)} to do{H6213}{(H8800)}, do{H6213}{(H8798)} it with thy might{H3581}; for there is no work{H4639}, nor device{H2808}, nor knowledge{H1847}, nor wisdom{H2451}, in the grave{H7585}, whither thou goest{H1980}{(H8802)}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  What so euer thou takest in hande to do, that do with all thy power: for amoge the deed (where as thou goest vnto) there is nether worke, councell, knowlege ner wy?dome.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  All that thine hand shall finde to doe, doe it with all thy power: for there is neither worke nor inuention, nor knowledge, nor wisedome in the graue whither thou goest.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Whatsoeuer thou takest in hande to do, that do with al thy power: for in the graue that thou goest vnto, there is neither worke, counsayle, knowledge, nor wysdome.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, where you are going.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  All that thy hand findeth to do, with thy power do, for there is no work, and device, and knowledge, and wisdom in Sheol whither thou art going.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do `it' with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, whither thou goest.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do [it] with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, whither thou goest.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Whatever comes to your hand to do with all your power, do it because there is no work, or thought, or knowledge, or wisdom in the place of the dead to which you are going.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, where you are going.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, because there is neither work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave, the place where you will eventually go.

Referenced Verses

• Col 3:23 : 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for people.
• Rom 12:11 : 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord with a fervent spirit.
• Eph 5:16 : 16 Make the most of the time, because the days are evil.
• Ps 6:5 : 5 Return, LORD! Rescue my soul; save me because of Your steadfast love.
• Ps 71:15-18 : 15 My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your salvation all day long, though I cannot count them all. 16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Lord God; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone. 17 God, you have taught me from my youth, and to this day I declare your wondrous works. 18 Even when I am old and my hair turns gray, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.
• Ps 88:10-12 : 10 My eyes are wasted from sorrow; I call upon you, LORD, every day; I stretch out my hands to you. 11 Do you work wonders for the dead? Do the departed rise up to praise you? Selah. 12 Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon?
• Eccl 9:5-6 : 5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even their memory is forgotten. 6 Their love, their hatred, and their envy have already vanished, and they will never again have a part in anything that happens under the sun.
• Eccl 11:3 : 3 When the clouds are full, they pour down rain upon the earth; and whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, wherever it falls, there it will lie.
• Eccl 11:6 : 6 Sow your seed in the morning and do not withhold your hand in the evening, for you do not know which will prosper—whether this or that, or if both will equally thrive.
• Isa 38:18-19 : 18 For Sheol cannot thank You, death cannot praise You. Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness. 19 The living, the living—they thank You, as I do today. Fathers make Your faithfulness known to their children.
• Jer 29:13 : 13 You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.
• Matt 6:33 : 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
• John 4:34 : 34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to accomplish his work.
• John 9:4 : 4 'As long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work.'
• Acts 20:25-31 : 25 'And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.' 26 Therefore, I testify to you today that I am innocent of the blood of everyone. 27 For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole plan of God. 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, among whom the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood. 29 I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from among your own group, men will rise up, speaking twisted things to draw away the disciples to follow them. 31 Therefore, be watchful, remembering that for three years I never stopped admonishing each one of you with tears, night and day.
• Num 13:30 : 30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”
• 1 Chr 22:19 : 19 Now set your heart and soul to seek the Lord your God. Arise and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God into the house that is to be built for the name of the Lord.
• 1 Chr 28:20 : 20 Then David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.
• 1 Chr 29:2-3 : 2 So, to the best of my ability, I have made preparations for the house of my God: gold for the gold work, silver for the silver work, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron, and wood for the wood, as well as onyx stones, inlaid stones, colored stones, all kinds of precious stones, and marble in abundance. 3 Moreover, because of my delight in the house of my God, I now dedicate my personal treasure of gold and silver for the house of my God, in addition to all I have already provided for the holy house.
• 2 Chr 31:20-21 : 20 This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah. He did what was good, upright, and true before the Lord his God. 21 In everything he undertook in the service of the house of God, in observing the law and the commandments, and in seeking his God, he worked wholeheartedly and prospered.
• Ezra 6:14-15 : 14 So the elders of the Jews continued building and succeeded through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, the son of Iddo. They finished building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia. 15 This temple was completed on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.
• Neh 2:12-3:16 : 12 Then I arose at night, along with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had placed on my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no animals with me except the one I was riding on. 13 At night, I went out through the Valley Gate, toward the Dragon's Spring and the Dung Gate. I inspected the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and its gates, which had been consumed by fire. 14 I continued on to the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool, but there was no room for the animal I was riding to pass through. 15 So I went up the valley at night, inspecting the wall. Then I turned back and re-entered through the Valley Gate, returning the way I came. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or any others who would be doing the work. 17 Then I said to them, "You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem is in ruins, and its gates have been burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we will no longer be a disgrace." 18 I told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, "Let us arise and build!" So they strengthened their hands for the good work. 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arabian heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. They said, "What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?" 20 I answered them, saying, "The God of heaven will give us success. We, his servants, will arise and build. But as for you, you have no share, no legal claim or historic right in Jerusalem." 1 Then Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests arose and built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set up its doors, and they consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel. 2 Next to him, the men of Jericho built, and next to them, Zaccur son of Imri built. 3 The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They laid its beams, set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 4 Next to them, Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired. Next to them, Meshullam son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel, repaired. And next to them, Zadok son of Baana, repaired. 5 Next to them, the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors. 6 Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah repaired the Old Gate. They laid its beams, set up its doors, its locks, and its bars. 7 Next to them, Melatiah the Gibeonite, Jadon the Meronothite, and the men of Gibeon and Mizpah repaired. These repairs were under the governor of the region beyond the River. 8 Next to them, Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired. And next to him, Hananiah, one of the perfumers, repaired. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. 9 Next to them, Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs. 10 Next to them, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house. And next to him, Hattush son of Hashabniah made repairs. 11 Malchijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab repaired another section, along with the Tower of the Ovens. 12 Next to them, Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired the section, along with his daughters. 13 Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They built it, set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and repaired a thousand cubits of the wall as far as the Dung Gate. 14 Malchijah son of Rechab, ruler of the district of Beth-Haccerem, repaired the Dung Gate. He rebuilt it and set up its doors, its locks, and its bars. 15 Shallun son of Col-Hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate. He rebuilt it, covered it, set up its doors, its locks, and its bars. He also repaired the wall of the Pool of Shelah near the King’s Garden, as far as the steps that descend from the City of David. 16 Next to him, Nehemiah son of Azbuk, ruler of half the district of Beth-Zur, made repairs as far as the tombs of David, and to the artificial pool, and to the House of the Mighty.
• Neh 4:2 : 2 They all conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and cause confusion.
• Neh 4:6 : 6 So it happened that the Jews who lived nearby came and told us ten times, 'Wherever you turn, they will attack us!'
• Neh 4:9-9 : 9 When our enemies realized that we were aware of their scheme and that God had frustrated their plans, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work. 10 From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The leaders stood behind all the people of Judah. 11 Those who were building the wall and those who carried loads were doing their work with one hand while holding a weapon with the other. 12 Every builder had his sword strapped to his side as he worked, and the one who sounded the trumpet stood beside me. 13 So I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, 'The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from one another along the wall.'
• Neh 4:17-17 : 17 Neither I, my brothers, my servants, nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each kept his weapon, even when going for water.
• Neh 13:8-9 : 8 I was greatly displeased, and I threw all of Tobiah’s household belongings out of the room. 9 Then I ordered the rooms to be purified, and I brought back the articles of the house of God, along with the grain offerings and the incense. 10 I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that the Levites and singers responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields. 11 So I rebuked the officials and asked, "Why is the house of God neglected?" Then I gathered them together and stationed them at their posts. 12 All Judah then brought the tithes of grain, new wine, and olive oil into the storerooms. 13 I appointed as treasurers over the storerooms Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah from the Levites, and as their assistant, Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, because they were considered trustworthy. They were responsible for distributing to their kinsmen. 14 Remember me, my God, for this, and do not erase the good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and its services. 15 In those days, I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath, bringing in heaps of grain, loading them on donkeys, as well as carrying wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, bringing them into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So, I warned them on the day they were selling their provisions. 16 People from Tyre who lived there were bringing in fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah and in Jerusalem. 17 I reprimanded the nobles of Judah and said to them, "What is this wicked thing you are doing—profaning the Sabbath day? 18 Didn’t your ancestors do the same, so that our God brought all this disaster upon us and upon this city? Now you are stirring up more wrath against Israel by desecrating the Sabbath!" 19 When evening shadows fell on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered the doors to be shut and directed that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. I stationed some of my men at the gates so that no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20 Once or twice, the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares spent the night outside Jerusalem. 21 But I warned them and said, "Why are you spending the night by the wall? If you do this again, I will lay hands on you." From that time on, they did not come on the Sabbath. 22 Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and to guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me also for this, my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love. 23 Additionally, in those days I saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24 Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of other peoples, but they could not speak the language of Judah. 25 So I confronted them, cursed them, struck some of them, pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God: 'You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons or yourselves.' 26 Did not Solomon, king of Israel, sin because of such things? Among the many nations, there was no king like him; he was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Yet, even he was led into sin by foreign women. 27 Must we then hear about you committing all this terrible evil, acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women? 28 Even one of the sons of Joiada, son of Eliashib the high priest, was a son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite, so I drove him away from me. 29 Remember them, my God, for defiling the priesthood and breaking the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. 30 Thus I purified them from everything foreign and assigned duties to the priests and Levites, each to his task. 31 I also made provision for the wood offering at appointed times and for the firstfruits. Remember me, my God, for good.
• Job 14:7-9 : 7 At least there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its shoots will not fail. 8 Even if its roots grow old in the ground and its stump dies in the soil, 9 at the scent of water it will bud and produce branches like a young plant. 10 But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last and where is he? 11 As the waters of a lake dry up or a riverbed becomes parched and dry, 12 so man lies down and does not rise; till the heavens are no more, people will not awake or be roused from their sleep.
• 2 Pet 1:12-15 : 12 Therefore, I will always remind you about these things, even though you already know them and are established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right, as long as I am in this earthly tent, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 knowing that the laying aside of my tent is imminent, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will also make every effort to ensure that after my departure, you will always be able to remember these things.
• Rom 15:18-20 : 18 I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done. 19 By the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. 20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.
• 1 Cor 9:24 : 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it.
• 1 Cor 9:26 : 26 Therefore, I run with purpose in every step; I fight not like someone beating the air.
• 1 Cor 15:10 : 10 But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
• 1 Cor 16:10 : 10 If Timothy comes, make sure he is without fear while among you, for he is doing the Lord’s work, just as I am.