Ecclesiastes

Chapter 9

1  Like things happen to good and bad.  4  There is a necessity of death unto men.  7  Comfort is all their portion in this life.  11  God's providence ruleth over all.  13  Wisdom is better than strength.

9:1 ¶ For (3588) (853) all (3605) this (2088) I considered {5414} <8804> in (413) my heart {3820} even to declare {952} <8800> (853) all (3605) this, (2088) that (834) the righteous, {6662} and the wise, {2450} and their works, {5652} [are] in the hand {3027} of God: {430} no (369) man {120} knoweth {3045} <8802> either {1571} love {160} or (1571) hatred {8135} [by] all (3605) [that is] before {6440} them.

9:2 All (3605) [things come] alike (834) to all: (3605) [there is] one {259} event {4745} to the righteous, {6662} and to the wicked; {7563} to the good {2896} and to the clean, {2889} and to the unclean; {2931} to him that sacrificeth, {2076} <8802> and to him that [834] sacrificeth {2076} <8802> (834) not: (369) as [is] the good, {2896} so [is] the sinner; {2398} <8802> [and] he that sweareth, {7650} <8737> as (834) [he] that feareth [3373] (3372) an oath. {7621}

9:3 This (2088) [is] an evil {7451} among all (3605) [things] that (834) are done {6213} <8738> under (8478) the sun, {8121} that (3588) [there is] one {259} event {4745} unto all: (3605) yea, also (1571) the heart {3820} of the sons {1121} of men {120} is full {4390} <8804> of evil, {7451} and madness {1947} [is] in their heart {3824} while they live, {2416} and after {310} that [they go] to (413) the dead. {4191} <8801>

9:4 ¶ For [4310] (3588) to him (4310) that (834) is [3426] joined {2266} <8792> k8675- [977] to (413) all (3605) the living {2416} there is (3426) hope: {986} for (3588) a living {2416} dog {3611} is better {2896} than (4480) a dead {4191} <8801> lion. {738}

9:5 For (3588) the living {2416} know {3045} <8802> that they shall die: {4191} <8799> (7945) but the dead {4191} <8801> know {3045} <8802> not (369) any thing, {3972} neither (369) have they any more (5750) a reward; {7939} for (3588) the memory {2143} of them is forgotten. {7911} <8738>

9:6 Also (1571) their love, {160} and (1571) their hatred, {8135} and (1571) their envy, {7068} is now {3528} perished; {6} <8804> neither (369) have they any more (5750) a portion {2506} for ever {5769} in any (3605) [thing] that (834) is done {6213} <8738> under (8478) the sun. {8121}

9:7 ¶ Go (1980) thy way, [3212] <8798> eat {398} <8798> thy bread {3899} with joy, {8057} and drink {8354} <8798> thy wine {3196} with a merry {2896} heart; {3820} for (3588) God {430} now {3528} accepteth {7521} <8804> (853) thy works. {4639}

9:8 Let thy garments {899} be (1961) always {6256} (3605) white; {3836} and let thy head {7218} lack {2637} <8799> no (408) ointment. {8081}

9:9 Live [2416] joyfully {7200} <8798> (2416) with (5973) the wife {802} whom (834) thou lovest {157} <8804> all (3605) the days {3117} of the life {2416} of thy vanity, {1892} which (834) he hath given {5414} <8804> thee under (8478) the sun, {8121} all (3605) the days {3117} of thy vanity: {1892} for (3588) that (1931) [is] thy portion {2506} in [this] life, {2416} and in thy labour {5999} which (834) thou (859) takest {6001} under (8478) the sun. {8121}

9:10 Whatsoever (3605) (834) thy hand {3027} findeth {4672} <8799> to do, {6213} <8800> do {6213} <8798> [it] with thy might; {3581} for (3588) [there is] no (369) work, {4639} nor device, {2808} nor knowledge, {1847} nor wisdom, {2451} in the grave, {7585} whither (834) (8033) thou (859) goest. {1980} <8802>

9:11 ¶ I returned, {7725} <8804> and saw {7200} <8800> under (8478) the sun, {8121} that (3588) the race {4793} [is] not (3808) to the swift, {7031} nor (3808) the battle {4421} to the strong, {1368} neither (3808) yet (1571) bread {3899} to the wise, {2450} nor (3808) yet (1571) riches {6239} to men of understanding, {995} <8737> nor (3808) yet (1571) favour {2580} to men of skill; {3045} <8802> but (3588) time {6256} and chance {6294} happeneth {7136} <8799> to (853) them all. (3605)

9:12 For (3588) man {120} also (1571) knoweth {3045} <8799> not (3808) (853) his time: {6256} as the fishes {1709} that are taken {270} <8737> (7945) in an evil {7451} net, [4685] (4686) and as the birds {6833} that are caught {270} <8803> in the snare; {6341} so [1992] [are] the sons {1121} of men {120} snared {3369} <8795> in an evil {7451} time, {6256} when it falleth {5307} <8799> (7945) suddenly {6597} upon (5921) them.

9:13 ¶ This {2090} wisdom {2451} have I seen {7200} <8804> also (1571) under (8478) the sun, {8121} and it (1931) [seemed] great {1419} unto (413) me:

9:14 [There was] a little {6996} city, {5892} and few {4592} men [582] (376) within it; and there came {935} <8804> a great {1419} king {4428} against (413) it, and besieged {5437} <8804> it, and built {1129} <8804> great {1419} bulwarks {4685} against (5921) it:

9:15 Now there was found {4672} <8804> in it a poor {4542} wise {2450} man, {376} and he (1931) by his wisdom {2451} delivered {4422} <8765> (853) the city; {5892} yet no (3808) man {120} remembered {2142} <8804> (853) that same (1931) poor {4542} man. {376}

9:16 Then said {559} <8804> I, (589) Wisdom {2451} [is] better {2896} than strength: {1369} (4480) nevertheless the poor man's {4542} wisdom {2451} [is] despised, {959} <8803> and his words {1697} are not (369) heard. {8085} <8737>

9:17 The words {1697} of wise {2450} [men are] heard {8085} <8737> in quiet {5183} more than the cry {2201} (4480) of him that ruleth {4910} <8802> among fools. {3684}

9:18 Wisdom {2451} [is] better {2896} than weapons {3627} (4480) of war: {7128} but one {259} sinner {2398} <8802> destroyeth {6} <8762> much {7235} <8687> good. {2896}