1 For all this I considered{H5414}{(H8804)} in my heart{H3820} even to declare{H952}{(H8800)} all this, that the righteous{H6662}, and the wise{H2450}, and their works{H5652}, are in the hand{H3027} of God{H430}: no man{H120} knoweth{H3045}{(H8802)} either{H1571} love{H160} or hatred{H8135} by all that is before{H6440} them.

2 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}{(H8802)}, and to him that{H834} sacrificeth{H2076}{(H8802)} not: as is the good{H2896}, so is the sinner{H2398}{(H8802)}; and he that sweareth{H7650}{(H8737)}, as he that feareth{H3373} an oath{H7621}.

3 This is an evil{H7451} among all things that are done{H6213}{(H8738)} 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}{(H8804)} 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}{(H8801)}.

4 For{H4310} to him that is{H3426} joined{H2266}{(H8792)}{(H8675)}{H977}{(H8792)} to all the living{H2416} there is hope{H986}: for a living{H2416} dog{H3611} is better{H2896} than a dead{H4191}{(H8801)} lion{H738}.

5 For the living{H2416} know{H3045}{(H8802)} that they shall die{H4191}{(H8799)}: but the dead{H4191}{(H8801)} know{H3045}{(H8802)} not any thing{H3972}, neither have they any more a reward{H7939}; for the memory{H2143} of them is forgotten{H7911}{(H8738)}.

6 Also their love{H160}, and their hatred{H8135}, and their envy{H7068}, is now{H3528} perished{H6}{(H8804)}; neither have they any more a portion{H2506} for ever{H5769} in any thing that is done{H6213}{(H8738)} under the sun{H8121}.

7 Go thy way{H3212}{(H8798)}, eat{H398}{(H8798)} thy bread{H3899} with joy{H8057}, and drink{H8354}{(H8798)} thy wine{H3196} with a merry{H2896} heart{H3820}; for God{H430} now{H3528} accepteth{H7521}{(H8804)} thy works{H4639}.

8 Let thy garments{H899} be always{H6256} white{H3836}; and let thy head{H7218} lack{H2637}{(H8799)} no ointment{H8081}.

9 Live{H2416} joyfully{H7200}{(H8798)} with the wife{H802} whom thou lovest{H157}{(H8804)} all the days{H3117} of the life{H2416} of thy vanity{H1892}, which he hath given{H5414}{(H8804)} thee under the sun{H8121}, all the days{H3117} of thy vanity{H1892}: for that is thy portion{H2506} in this life{H2416}, and in thy labour{H5999} which thou takest{H6001} under the sun{H8121}.

10 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)}.

11 I returned{H7725}{(H8804)}, and saw{H7200}{(H8800)} 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}{(H8737)}, nor yet favour{H2580} to men of skill{H3045}{(H8802)}; but time{H6256} and chance{H6294} happeneth{H7136}{(H8799)} to them all.

12 For man{H120} also knoweth{H3045}{(H8799)} not his time{H6256}: as the fishes{H1709} that are taken{H270}{(H8737)} in an evil{H7451} net{H4685}, and as the birds{H6833} that are caught{H270}{(H8803)} in the snare{H6341}; so{H1992} are the sons{H1121} of men{H120} snared{H3369}{(H8795)} in an evil{H7451} time{H6256}, when it falleth{H5307}{(H8799)} suddenly{H6597} upon them.

13 This{H2090} wisdom{H2451} have I seen{H7200}{(H8804)} also under the sun{H8121}, and it seemed great{H1419} unto me:

14 There was a little{H6996} city{H5892}, and few{H4592} men{H582} within it; and there came{H935}{(H8804)} a great{H1419} king{H4428} against it, and besieged{H5437}{(H8804)} it, and built{H1129}{(H8804)} great{H1419} bulwarks{H4685} against it:

15 Now there was found{H4672}{(H8804)} in it a poor{H4542} wise{H2450} man{H376}, and he by his wisdom{H2451} delivered{H4422}{(H8765)} the city{H5892}; yet no man{H120} remembered{H2142}{(H8804)} that same poor{H4542} man{H376}.

16 Then said{H559}{(H8804)} I, Wisdom{H2451} is better{H2896} than strength{H1369}: nevertheless the poor man's{H4542} wisdom{H2451} is despised{H959}{(H8803)}, and his words{H1697} are not heard{H8085}{(H8737)}.

17 The words{H1697} of wise{H2450} men are heard{H8085}{(H8737)} in quiet{H5183} more than the cry{H2201} of him that ruleth{H4910}{(H8802)} among fools{H3684}.

18 Wisdom{H2451} is better{H2896} than weapons{H3627} of war{H7128}: but one{H259} sinner{H2398}{(H8802)} destroyeth{H6}{(H8762)} much{H7235}{(H8687)} good{H2896}.