For I have taken all
this
to my heart
and explain
1it that righteous
men
, wise
men
, and their deeds
are ain the hand
of God
. bMan
does not know
whether
it will be clove
or
hatred
; anything
2awaits
him.
aIt is the same for all
. There is bone
fate
for the righteous
and for the wicked
; for the good
, for the clean
and for the unclean
; for the man who offers
a sacrifice
and for the one who
does not sacrifice
. As the good
man
is, so is the sinner
; as the swearer
is, so is the one who 1is afraid
to swear
.
This is an evil
in all
that is done
under
the sun
, that there is aone
fate
for all
men
. Furthermore
, bthe hearts
of the sons
of men
are full
of evil
and cinsanity
is in their hearts
throughout their lives
. Afterwards
they go to the dead
.
For whoever is joined
with all
the living
, there
is hope
; surely
a live
dog
is better
than
a dead
lion
.
For the living know
they will die
; but the dead
ado not know
anything
, nor
have
they any
longer
a reward
, for their bmemory
is forgotten
.
Indeed their love
, their hate
and their zeal
have already
perished
, and they will no
longer
have
a ashare
in all
that is done
under
the sun
.
Go then, aeat
your bread
in happiness
and drink
your wine
with a cheerful
heart
; for God
has already
approved
your works
.
Let your aclothes be white
all
the time
, and let not boil
be lacking
on your head
.
Enjoy life
with the woman
whom
you love
all
the days
of your 1 afleeting
life
which
He has given
to you under
the sun
2; for this
is your breward
in life
and in your toil
in which
you have labored
under
the sun
.
Whatever your hand
finds
to do
, ado
it with all your might
; for there
is no
bactivity
or planning
or knowledge
or wisdom
in cSheol
where
you are going
.
I again saw
under
the sun
that the arace
is not to the swift
and the bbattle
is not to the warriors
, and neither
is bread
to the wise
nor
cwealth
to the discerning
nor
favor
to men of ability
; for time
and dchance
overtake
them all
.
Moreover, man
does not aknow
his time
: like fish
caught
in a treacherous
net
and bbirds
trapped
in a snare
, so the sons
of men
are censnared
at an evil
time
when it dsuddenly
falls
on them.
Also this
I came to see
as wisdom
under
the sun
, and 1it impressed
me.
There awas a small city
with few
men
in it and a great
king
came
to it, surrounded
it and constructed
large
siegeworks
against
it.
But there was found in it a apoor
wise
man
and he 1delivered
the city
bby his wisdom
. Yet cno
one
remembered
that poor
man
.
So I said, " aWisdom
is better
than
strength
." But the wisdom
of the poor
man
is despised
and his words
are not heeded
.
The awords of the wise
heard
in quietness
are better than
the shouting
of a ruler
among fools
.
aWisdom is better
than
weapons
of war
, but bone
sinner
destroys
much
good
.