Ecclesiastes 9

Ecclesiastes 9:1

No man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.

No man can, by the success of these outward things, judge and know, whether he be in the love or hatred of God.

Ecclesiastes 9:3

And madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

Their heart is resolved to go madly and desperately forward in their wickedness, while they live; and when they have done thus lewdly, they drop into the grave, if not into hell. ECULESIARTES, CHAP. VIII. IX.

Ecclesiastes 9:4

For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: but a living dog is better than a dead lion.

If we compare the estate of the living and the dead, whether in itself or in respect of the present world, no doubt that of the living is better; for while we live here we may be still in hope, either of amending, or of receiving further graces and blessings; both which are, in regard of this life, cut off from the dead; and, as our common proverb runs, the most vile and contemptible of all creatures, the dog, that is alive, is better than the most generous of all beasts, the lion, which is now dead.

Ecclesiastes 9:5

For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward.

However, in respect of a better life and the glorious estate of the soul, the case is quite contrary; yet, in reference to our present and sensible condition, the living know something; if no more but this, that they must die: but the dead know nothing at all, of these earthly occurrences; neither have they any more part or interest in these affairs, or any sense of their increase or diminution.

Ecclesiastes 9:6

All their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion in any thing that is done under the sun.

Also, together with their senses, their affections are ceased: their love and their hatred of their wonted objects are now perished; their envy and their desires are gone; neither have they ought to do with any thing, that is done here below.

Ecclesiastes 9:8

Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.

Testify the joy of thy heart, by the neatness and brightness of thy garments: and let thy head lack no store of sweet and precious oils, to cheer thy spirits and perfume thy skin.

Ecclesiastes 9:10

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.

Whatever occasion of honest delight offer itself unto thee, take it; and whatever opportunity is offered thee of doing good, embrace it gladly: and do it accordingly, with all thy heart; for thou hast but a while to do it or to enjoy it, since that in the grave, whither thou goest, there is no work to be done, no device to be contrived, no use of knowledge or wisdom.

Ecclesiastes 9:11

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.

I saw and observed, that, here on earth, all things do not fall out according to the probability of second causes, but by an overruling of Providence: the swiftest man doth not always win the race, nor the strong prevail in battle; the wise man doth not always get maintenance, nor the prudent wealth, nor the skilful approbation and favour; but every one, in his time, hath a several issue and event, according to the predetermination of the Almighty, beyond or contrary to his own hopes.

Ecclesiastes 9:12

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.

For man cannot foreknow the time of his death or danger; but, even as the heedless fish runs unawares into the net, and the silly bird into the snare, so are we wretched men caught in the net and snare of evil occurrents, in the time which God hath secretly set, and surprised suddenly with unavoidable calamities.

Ecclesiastes 9:14

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.

There were many men in it, yet but one wise man: the number of the other was helpless, if not burdenous: that wise man was poor; and that poor man, by a stratagem, unthought of by the rest, found means to rescue and deliver that city; yet when he had done, no man regarded that man, because he was poor in estate though rich in wisdom.

Ecclesiastes 9:17

The words of the wise are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

The words of a wise poor man, though spoken softly out of a fearful and lowly kind of bashfulness, are worthy of more respect, than the imperious loud clamours of him that rules among fools.