Ecc 9 | HCSB | STEP | Indeed , I took all this to heart and explained it all : the righteous , the wise , and their works are in God’s hands . People don’t know whether to expect love or hate . Everything lies ahead of them.

‏ Ecclesiastes 9

Enjoy Life Despite Death

1 Indeed, I took all this to heart and explained it all: the righteous, the wise, and their works are in God’s hands. ^{a
,} ^{▼▼people: Literally sons of man or sons of Adam}People don’t know whether to expect love or hate. Everything lies ahead of them. 2 Everything is the same for everyone: ^c there is one fate for the righteous and the wicked, ^d for the good and the bad, ^{▼▼LXX, Aq, Syr, Vg; MT omits and the bad} for the ^{▼▼clean: When something is clean, it is holy or acceptable to God. When it is unclean, it is unholy (such as an unclean spirit). The term can be used in a ritual sense to apply to moral standards for living.}clean and the ^{▼▼unclean: When something is clean, it is holy or acceptable to God. When it is unclean, it is unholy (such as an unclean spirit). The term can be used in a ritual sense to apply to moral standards for living.}unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not sacrifice. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner; as for the one who takes an oath, so for the one who fears an oath. 3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: there is one fate for everyone. In addition, the hearts of people are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live ^h – after that they go to the dead. 4 But there is hope for whoever is joined ^{▼▼Alt Hb tradition reads chosen} with all the living, since a live dog is better than a dead lion. 5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead don’t know anything. There is no longer a reward for them because the memory of them is forgotten. ^j 6 Their love, their hate, and their envy have already disappeared, and there is no longer a portion for them in all that is done under the sun.

7 Go, eat your bread with pleasure, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already accepted your works. ^k 8 Let your clothes be white all the time, and never let oil be lacking on your head. ^l 9 Enjoy life with the wife you love all the days of your fleeting ^{▼▼Or futile} life, ⁿ which has been given to you under the sun, all your fleeting days. For that is your portion in life and in your struggle ^o under the sun. 10 Whatever your hands find to do, do with all your strength, ^p because there is no work, planning, knowledge, or wisdom ^q in ^{▼▼Sheol: A Hebrew word for either the grave or the realm of the dead}Sheol where you are going.

The Limitations of Wisdom

11 Again I saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, ^s or the battle to the strong, ^t or bread to the wise, or riches to the discerning, or favor to the skillful; rather, time and chance happen to all of them. 12 For man certainly does not know his time: ^u like fish caught in a cruel net or like birds caught in a trap, ^v so people are trapped in an evil time ^w as it suddenly falls on them. ^x

13 I have observed that this also is wisdom under the sun, and it is significant to me: 14 There was a small city with few men in it. A great king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege works against it. 15 Now a poor wise man was found in the city, ^y and he delivered the city by his wisdom. ^z Yet no one remembered that poor man. 16 And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, ^aa but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”

17 The calm words of the wise are heeded
more than the shouts of a ruler over fools.
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war,
but one sinner can destroy much good. ^ab