“For I considered all this in my heart, so that I could declare it all, that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God. People know neither love nor hatred by anything that they see before them.”
Ecclesiastes 9
17 of 18 verses have a reading · Berean Standard Bible
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Chuck Smith12
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David Guzik6
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Ian Paisley5
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Don Courville3
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David Hocking2
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E.A. Johnston2
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Chuck Smith12
DG
David Guzik6
IP
Ian Paisley5
DC
Don Courville3
DH
David Hocking2
EJ
E.A. Johnston2
PB
Peter Bisset2
NF
Neil Fraser2
CS
C.H. Spurgeon1
ZP
Zac Poonen1
All voices →
1So I took all this to heart and concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their deeds, are in God's hands. Man does not know what lies ahead, whether love or hate.
“for all of this, I considered in my heart, even to declare all of this, that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God, and no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.”
2It is the same for all: There is a common fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner; as it is for the one who makes a vow, so it is for the one who refuses to take a vow.
“All things come alike to all. One event happens to the righteous and to the wicked, to the good, the clean, and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and to him who does not sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner. He who takes…”
“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 sacrifices, to him that sacrifices not. As is the good, so is the sinner. And as he…”
3This is an evil in everything that is done under the sun: There is one fate for everyone. Furthermore, the hearts of men are full of evil and madness while they are alive, and afterward they join the dead.
“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…”
“This is an evil in all that is done under the sun. That one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil. Madness is in their hearts while they live. And after that they go to the dead.”
4There is hope, however, for anyone who is among the living; for even a live dog is better than a dead lion.
“For to him that is joined to all the living, there is hope. For a living dog is better than a dead lion.”
“For to him that is joined to all the living, there is hope. For a living dog is better than a dead lion.”
“But for him who is joined to the living, there is hope. For a living dog is better than a dead lion.”
5For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, because the memory of them is forgotten.
“For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.”
6Their love, their hate, and their envy have already vanished, and they will never again have a share in all that is done under the sun.
“Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished. Nevermore will they have a share in anything done under the sun.”
7Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already approved your works:
“Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart, for God now accepteth thy works,”
“Go eat your bread with joy, drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already accepted your works.”
8Let your garments always be white, and never spare the oil for your head.
“Let your clothes be white all the time and let not oil be lacking on your head.”
“Let your garments always be white and let your head lack no oil.”
9Enjoy life with your beloved wife all the days of the fleeting life that God has given you under the sun—all your fleeting days. For this is your portion in life and in your labor under the sun.
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10Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.
“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. For there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave where thou goest.”
11I saw something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; neither is the bread to the wise, nor the wealth to the intelligent, nor the favor to the skillful. For time and chance happen to all.
“I returned and saw unto the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill. But time and chance happens to them…”
12For surely no man knows his time: Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds trapped in a snare, so men are ensnared in an evil time that suddenly falls upon them.
“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.”
“man does not know his time. Like fish caught in a treacherous net and birds trapped in a snare. So the sons of men are ensnared at an evil time when it suddenly falls on them.”
“For man also knoweth not his time, as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, 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 also knows not his time, as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, as the birds that are caught in a snare. So are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.”
13I have also seen this wisdom under the sun, and it was great to me:
“This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me.”
“this wisdom I have seen under the sun and it seemed great to me,”
“This wisdom have I seen under the sun, and it seemed great unto me.”
14There was a small city with few men. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege ramps against it.
“there was a little city with few men in it and a great king came against it, besieged it and built great snares around it,”
“There was a little city and a few men within it, and there came a great king against it and besieged it, and he built great bulwarks against it.”
“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 was a and few men within it and there came a great king against it and besieged it and built great bulwarks against it.”
15Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.
“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.”
“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.”
“now there was found in it a poor wise man and he by his wisdom delivered this city, yet no one remembered that same poor man,”
“Now there was in this little city found a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city, yet no man remembered that same poor man.”
16And I said, "Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded."
“Then I said, Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless, the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.”
“Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless, the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.”
17The calm words of the wise are heeded over the shouts of a ruler among fools.
“The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.”
“The words of wise men are heard and quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.”
18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
“Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroyeth much good.”
“Wisdom is better than weapons of war. But one sinner destroyeth much good.”
“Wisdom is better than the weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.”
“Wisdom is better than weapons of war. One sinner destroys much good.”