Bible-Reading.comEcclesiastes 9
1But all this I have laid unto my heart, so as to clear up the whole of this, that the righteous and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God, neither love nor hatred doth man know, the whole is before them.
2The whole is as to the whole; one event is to the righteous and to the wicked, to the good, and to the clean, and to the unclean, and to him who is sacrificing, and to him who is not sacrificing; as is the good, so is the sinner, he who is swearing as he who is fearing an oath.
3This is an evil among all that hath been done under the sun, that one event is to all, and also the heart of the sons of man is full of evil, and madness is in their heart during their life, and after it -- unto the dead.
4But to him who is joined unto all the living there is confidence, for to a living dog it is better than to the dead lion.
5For the living know that they die, and the dead know not anything, and there is no more to them a reward, for their remembrance hath been forgotten.
6Their love also, their hatred also, their envy also, hath already perished, and they have no more a portion to the age in all that hath been done under the sun.
7Go, eat with joy thy bread, and drink with a glad heart thy wine, for already hath God been pleased with thy works.
8At all times let thy garments be white, and let not perfume be lacking on thy head.
9See life with the wife whom thou hast loved, all the days of the life of thy vanity, that He hath given to thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity, for it is thy portion in life, even of thy labour that thou art labouring at under the sun.
10All that thy hand findeth to do, with thy power do, for there is no work, and device, and knowledge, and wisdom in Sheol whither thou art going.
11I have turned so as to see under the sun, that not to the swift is the race, nor to the mighty the battle, nor even to the wise bread, nor even to the intelligent wealth, nor even to the skilful grace, for time and chance happen with them all.
12For even man knoweth not his time; as fish that are taken hold of by an evil net, and as birds that are taken hold of by a snare, like these are the sons of man snared at an evil time, when it falleth upon them suddenly.
13This also I have seen: wisdom under the sun, and it is great to me.
14A little city, and few men in it, and a great king hath come unto it, and hath surrounded it, and hath built against it great bulwarks;
15and there hath been found in it a poor wise man, and he hath delivered the city by his wisdom, and men have not remembered that poor man!
16And I said, ‘Better is wisdom than might, and the wisdom of the poor is despised, and his words are not heard.' --
17The words of the wise in quiet are heard, More than the cry of a ruler over fools.
18Better is wisdom than weapons of conflict, And one sinner destroyeth much good!
Ecclesiastes 10
1Dead flies cause a perfumer's perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom -- By reason of honour -- a little folly!
2The heart of the wise is at his right hand, And the heart of a fool at his left.
3And also, when he that is a fool Is walking in the way, his heart is lacking, And he hath said to every one, ‘He is a fool.'
4If the spirit of the ruler go up against thee, Thy place leave not, For yielding quieteth great sinners.
5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As an error that goeth out from the ruler,
6He hath set the fool in many high places, And the rich in a low place do sit.
7I have seen servants on horses, And princes walking as servants on the earth.
8Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And whoso is breaking a hedge, a serpent biteth him.
9Whoso is removing stones is grieved by them, Whoso is cleaving trees endangered by them.
10If the iron hath been blunt, And he the face hath not sharpened, Then doth he increase strength, And wisdom is advantageous to make right.
11If the serpent biteth without enchantment, Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue.
12Words of the mouth of the wise are gracious, And the lips of a fool swallow him up.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly, And the latter end of his mouth Is mischievous madness.
14And the fool multiplieth words: ‘Man knoweth not that which is, And that which is after him, who doth declare to him?'
15The labour of the foolish wearieth him, In that he hath not known to go unto the city.
16Wo to thee, O land, when thy king is a youth, And thy princes do eat in the morning.
17Happy art thou, O land, When thy king is a son of freemen, And thy princes do eat in due season, For might, and not for drunkenness.
18By slothfulness is the wall brought low, And by idleness of the hands doth the house drop.
19For mirth they are making a feast, And wine maketh life joyful, And the silver answereth with all.
20Even in thy mind a king revile not, And in the inner parts of thy bed-chamber Revile not the rich: For a fowl of the heavens causeth the voice to go, And a possessor of wings declareth the word.