1 For all3605 this2088 I considered5414 in my heart3820 even to declare952 all3605 this,2088 that the righteous,6662 and the wise,2450 and their works,5652 are in the hand3027 of God:430 no369 man120 knows3045 either1571 love160 or hatred8135 by all3605 that is before6440 them.

2 All3605 things come alike834 to all:3605 there is one259 event4745 to the righteous,6662 and to the wicked;7563 to the good2896 and to the clean,2889 and to the unclean;2931 to him that sacrifices,2076 and to him that sacrifices2076 not: as is the good,2896 so is the sinner;2398 and he that swears,7650 as he that fears3373 an oath.7621

3 This2088 is an evil7451 among all3605 things that are done6213 under8478 the sun,8121 that there is one259 event4745 to all:3605 yes,1571 also1571 the heart3820 of the sons1121 of men120 is full4390 of evil,7451 and madness1947 is in their heart3824 while they live,2416 and after310 that they go to the dead.4191

4 For to him that is joined977 to all3605 the living2416 there is hope:986 for a living2416 dog3611 is better2896 than4480 a dead4191 lion.738

5 For the living2416 know3045 that they shall die:4191 but the dead4191 know3045 not any3972 thing, neither1571 369 have they any more5750 a reward;7939 for the memory2143 of them is forgotten.7911

6 Also1571 their love,160 and their hatred,8135 and their envy,7068 is now3528 perished;6 neither1571 369 have they any more5750 a portion2506 for ever5769 in any3605 thing that is done6213 under8478 the sun.8121

7 Go3212 your way, eat398 your bread3899 with joy,8057 and drink8354 your wine3196 with a merry2896 heart;3820 for God430 now3528 accepts7521 your works.4639

8 Let your garments899 be always3605 6256 white;3836 and let your head7218 lack2637 no408 ointment.8081

9 Live2416 joyfully2416 with the wife802 whom834 you love157 all3605 the days3117 of the life2416 of your vanity,1892 which834 he has given5414 you under8478 the sun,8121 all3605 the days3117 of your vanity:1892 for that is your portion2506 in this2088 life,2416 and in your labor5999 which you take6001 under8478 the sun.8121

10 Whatever3605 834 your hand3027 finds4672 to do,6213 do6213 it with your might;3581 for there is no369 work,4639 nor device,2808 nor knowledge,1847 nor wisdom,2451 in the grave,7585 where834 8033 you go.1980

11 I returned,7725 and saw7200 under8478 the sun,8121 that the race4793 is not to the swift,7031 nor3808 the battle4421 to the strong,1368 neither3808 yet1571 bread3899 to the wise,2450 nor3808 yet1571 riches6239 to men of understanding,995 nor3808 yet1571 favor2580 to men of skill;3045 but time6256 and chance6294 happens7136 to them all.3605

12 For man120 also1571 knows3045 not his time:6256 as the fishes1709 that are taken270 in an evil7451 net,4686 and as the birds6833 that are caught270 in the snare;6341 so1992 are the sons1121 of men120 snared3369 in an evil7451 time,6256 when it falls5307 suddenly6597 on them.

13 This2090 wisdom2451 have I seen7200 also1571 under8478 the sun,8121 and it seemed great1419 to me:

14 There was a little6996 city,5892 and few4592 men582 within it; and there came935 a great1419 king4428 against413 it, and besieged5437 it, and built1129 great1419 bulwarks4685 against5921 it:

15 Now there was found4672 in it a poor4542 wise2450 man,376 and he by his wisdom2451 delivered4422 the city;5892 yet no3808 man120 remembered2142 that same1931 poor4542 man.376

16 Then said559 I, Wisdom2451 is better2896 than strength:1369 nevertheless the poor4542 man's wisdom2451 is despised,959 and his words1697 are not heard.8085

17 The words1697 of wise2450 men are heard8085 in quiet5183 more than the cry2201 of him that rules4910 among fools.3684

18 Wisdom2451 is better2896 than weapons3627 of war:7128 but one259 sinner2398 destroys6 much7235 good.2896