Ecclesiastes 9

1For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, in the hand of Elohim: no man knoweth either love or hatred all before them. 2All alike to all: one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as the good, so the sinner; he that sweareth, as that feareth an oath. 3This an evil among all that are done under the sun, that one event unto all: yes, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness in their heart while they live, and after that to the dead. 4For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. 6Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any that is done under the sun. 7Go your way, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for Elohim now accepteth your works. 8Let your garments be always white; and let your head lack no ointment. 9Live joyfully with the wife whom you lovest all the days of the life of your vanity, which he has given you under the sun, all the days of your vanity: for that your portion in life, and in your labour which you takest under the sun. 10Whatsoever your hand findeth to do, do with your might; for no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, where you goest. 11I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. 12For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them. 13This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it great unto me: 14a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: 15Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. 16Then said I, Wisdom better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom despised, and his words are not heard. 17The words of wise heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. 18Wisdom better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.