For all this I considered in my heart
even to declare
all this, that the righteous
, and the wise
, and their works
, are in the hand
of God
: no man
knoweth
either
love
or hatred
by all that is before
them.
All things come alike to all: there is 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 is the good
, so is the sinner
; and he that sweareth
, as he that feareth
an oath
.
This is an evil among all things that are done
under the sun
, that there is one
event
unto all: yea, also the heart
of the sons
of men
is full
of evil
, and madness
is in their heart
while they live
, and after
that they go to the dead
.
For to him that is
joined
to all the living
there is hope
: for a living
dog
is better
than a dead
lion
.
For 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
.
Also their love, and their hatred
, and their envy
, is now
perished
; neither have they any more a portion
for ever
in any thing that is done
under the sun
.
Go thy way, eat
thy bread
with joy
, and drink
thy wine
with a merry
heart
; for God
now
accepteth
thy works
.
Let thy garments be always
white
; and let thy head
lack
no ointment
.
Live joyfully
with the wife
whom thou lovest
all the days
of the life
of thy vanity
, which he hath given
thee under the sun
, all the days
of thy vanity
: for that is thy portion
in this life
, and in thy labour
which thou takest
under the sun
.
Whatsoever thy hand findeth
to do
, do
it with thy might
; for there is no work
, nor device
, nor knowledge
, nor wisdom
, in the grave
, whither thou goest
.
I returned, and saw
under the sun
, that the race
is 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.
For 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
are the sons
of men
snared
in an evil
time
, when it falleth
suddenly
upon them.
This wisdom
have I seen
also under the sun
, and it seemed great
unto me:
There was a little city
, and few
men
within it; and there came
a great
king
against it, and besieged
it, and built
great
bulwarks
against it:
Now 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
.
Then said I, Wisdom
is better
than strength
: nevertheless the poor man's
wisdom
is despised
, and his words
are not heard
.
The words of wise
men are heard
in quiet
more than the cry
of him that ruleth
among fools
.
Wisdom is better
than weapons
of war
: but one
sinner
destroyeth
much
good
.