Ecclesiastes 9 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible

🚧 This feature is in beta. You may encounter issues as we continue to improve it. 🚧

Versions
Versions
World English Bible Classic
[1] For all this I laid to my heart, even to explore all this: that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God; whether it is love or hatred, man doesn’t know it; all is before them. [2] All things come alike to all. There is one event to the righteous and to the wicked; to the good, to the clean, to the unclean, to him who sacrifices, and to him who doesn’t sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; he who takes an oath, as he who fears an oath. [3] This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event to all. Yes 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. [4] For to him who is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion. [5] For the living know that they will die, but the dead don’t know anything, neither do they have any more a reward; for their memory is forgotten. [6] Also their love, their hatred, and their envy has perished long ago; neither do they any longer have a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun. [7] Go your way—eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has already accepted your works. [8] Let your garments be always white, and don’t let your head lack oil. [9] Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your life of vanity, which he has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity, for that is your portion in life, and in your labor in which you labor under the sun. [10] Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor plan, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol,ⓘ where you are going. [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 favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all. [12] For man also doesn’t know his time. As the fish that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, even so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly on them. [13] I have also seen wisdom under the sun in this way, and it seemed great to me. [14] There was a little city, and few men within it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it. [15] Now a poor wise man was found in it, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. [16] Then I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. [17] The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him who rules among fools. [18] Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good.

Footnotes

  1. ⓘ 9:10 Sheol is the place of the dead.
King James Version
[1] For H3588 all H3605 this H2088 I considered H5414 in my heart H3820§ even H1571 to declare H952 all H3605 this, that the righteous, H6662 and the wise, H2450 and their works, H5652 are in the hand H3027 of God: H430 no man H120 knoweth H3045 either H1571 love H160 or hatred H8135 by all that is before H6440 them. [2] All things come alike to all: there is one H259 event H4745 to the righteous, H6662 and to the wicked; H7563 to the good H2896 and to the clean, H2889 and to the unclean; H2931 to him that sacrificeth, H2076 and to him that H834 sacrificeth H2076 not: as is the good, H2896 so is the sinner; H2398 and he that sweareth, H7650 as he that feareth H3373 an oath. H7621 [3] This is an evil H7451 among all things that are done H6213 under the sun, H8121 that there is one H259 event H4745 unto H413 all: yea, also the heart H3820 of the sons H1121 of men H120 is full H4390 of evil, H7451 and madness H1947 is in their heart H3824 while they live, H2416 and after H310 that they go to the dead. H4191 [4] For H4310 to him that is H3426 joined H2266 H977 to all the living H2416 there is hope: H986 for H3588 a living H2416 dog H3611 is better H2896 than a dead H4191 lion. H738 [5] For H3588 the living H2416 know H3045 that they shall die: H4191 but the dead H4191 know H3045 not H369 any thing, H3972 neither have they any more a reward; H7939 for H3588 the memory H2143 of them is forgotten. H7911 [6] Also H1571 their love, H160 and their hatred, H8135 and their envy, H7068 is now H3528 perished; H6 neither have they any more a portion H2506 for ever H5769 in any thing that is done H6213 under the sun. H8121 [7] Go thy way, H3212 eat H398 thy bread H3899 with joy, H8057 and drink H8354 thy wine H3196 with a merry H2896 heart; H3820 for H3588 God H430 now H3528 accepteth H7521 H853 thy works. H4639 [8] Let thy garments H899 be always H6256 white; H3836 and let thy head H7218 lack H2637 no ointment. H8081 [9] Live H2416 joyfully H7200§ with H5973 the wife H802 whom H834 thou lovest H157 all H3605 the days H3117 of the life H2416 of thy vanity, H1892 which H834 he hath given H5414 thee under the sun, H8121 all H3605 the days H3117 of thy vanity: H1892 for that is thy portion H2506 in this life, H2416 and in thy labour H5999 which H834 thou takest H6001 under the sun. H8121 [10] Whatsoever thy hand H3027 findeth H4672 to do, H6213 do H6213 it with thy might; H3581 for there is no work, H4639 nor device, H2808 nor knowledge, H1847 nor wisdom, H2451 in the grave, H7585 whither thou goest. H1980 [11] I returned, H7725 and saw H7200 under the sun, H8121 that the race H4793 is not to the swift, H7031 nor the battle H4421 to the strong, H1368 neither yet bread H3899 to the wise, H2450 nor yet riches H6239 to men of understanding, H995 nor yet favour H2580 to men of skill; H3045 but time H6256 and chance H6294 happeneth H7136 to them all. [12] For H3588 man H120 also H1571 knoweth H3045 not H3808 his time: H6256 as the fishes H1709 that are taken H270 in an evil H7451 net, H4685 and as the birds H6833 that are caught H270 in the snare; H6341 so H1992 are the sons H1121 of men H120 snared H3369 in an evil H7451 time, H6256 when it falleth H5307 suddenly H6597 upon them. [13] This H2090 wisdom H2451 have I seen H7200 also H1571 under the sun, H8121 and it seemed great H1419 unto me: [14] there was a little H6996 city, H5892 and few H4592 men H582 within it; and there came H935 a great H1419 king H4428 against H5921 it, and besieged H5437 it, and built H1129 great H1419 bulwarks H4685 against it: [15] now there was found H4672 in it a poor H4542 wise H2450 man, H376 and he by his wisdom H2451 delivered H4422 H853 the city; H5892 yet no man H120 remembered H2142 that same poor H4542 man. H376 [16] Then said H559 I, Wisdom H2451 is better H2896 than strength: H1369 nevertheless the poor man’s H4542 wisdom H2451 is despised, H959 and his words H1697 are not heard. H8085 [17] The words H1697 of wise H2450 men are heard H8085 in quiet H5183 more than the cry H2201 of him that ruleth H4910 among fools. H3684 [18] Wisdom H2451 is better H2896 than weapons H3627 of war: H7128 but one H259 sinner H2398 destroyeth H6 much H7235 good. H2896

Footnotes

  1. § 9:1 Heb. I gave, or set to my heart
  2. § 9:9 Heb. see, or enjoy life
Septuaginta
[1] Ὅτι G3754 σὺν G4862 πᾶν G3956 τοῦτο G5124 ἔδωκα G1325 εἰς G1519 καρδίαν G2588 μου, G3450 καὶ G2532 καρδία G2588 μου G3450 σὺν G4862 πᾶν G3956 εἶδεν G1492 τοῦτο, G5124 ὡς G5613 οἱ G3588 δίκαιοι G1342 καὶ G2532 οἱ G3588 σοφοὶ G4680 καὶ G2532 ἐργασίαι G2039 αὐτῶν G846 ἐν G1722 χειρὶ G5495 τοῦ G3588 θεοῦ, G2316 καί G2532 γε G1065 ἀγάπην G26 καί G2532 γε G1065 μῖσος οὐκ G3756 ἔστιν G2076 εἰδὼς G1492 ὁ G3588 ἄνθρωπος· G444 τὰ G3588 πάντα G3956 πρὸ G4253 προσώπου G4383 αὐτῶν, G846 [2] ματαιότης G3153 ἐν G1722 τοῖς G3588 πᾶσιν. G3956 Συνάντημα ἓν G1520 τῷ G3588 δικαίῳ G1342 καὶ G2532 τῷ G3588 ἀσεβεῖ, G765 τῷ G3588 ἀγαθῷ G18 καὶ G2532 τῷ G3588 κακῷ G2556 καὶ G2532 τῷ G3588 καθαρῷ G2513 καὶ G2532 τῷ G3588 ἀκαθάρτῳ G169 καὶ G2532 τῷ G3588 θυσιάζοντι καὶ G2532 τῷ G3588 μὴ G3361 θυσιάζοντι· ὡς G5613 ὁ G3588 ἀγαθός, G18 ὧς G5613 ὁ G3588 ἁμαρτάνων· G264 ὧς G5613 ὁ G3588 ὀμνύων, G3660 καθὼς G2531 ὁ G3588 τὸν G3588 ὅρκον G3727 φοβούμενος. G5399 [3] Τοῦτο G5124 πονηρὸν G4190 ἐν G1722 παντὶ G3956 πεποιημένῳ G4160 ὑπὸ G5259 τὸν G3588 ἥλιον, G2246 ὅτι G3754 συνάντημα ἓν G1520 τοῖς G3588 πᾶσιν· G3956 καί G2532 γε G1065 καρδία G2588 υἱῶν G5207 τοῦ G3588 ἀνθρώπου G444 ἐπληρώθη G4137 πονηροῦ, G4190 καὶ G2532 περιφέρεια ἐν G1722 καρδίᾳ G2588 αὐτῶν G846 ἐν G1722 ζωῇ G2222 αὐτῶν, G846 καὶ G2532 ὀπίσω G3694 αὐτῶν G846 πρὸς G4314 τοὺς G3588 νεκρούς. G3498 [4] Ὅτι G3754 τίς G5101 ὃς G3739 κοινωνεῖ G2841 πρὸς G4314 πάντας G3956 τοὺς G3588 ζῶντας; G2198 Ἔστιν G2076 ἐλπίς, G1680 ὅτι G3754 ὁ G3588 κύων G2965 ὁ G3588 ζῶν, G2198 αὐτὸς G846 ἀγαθὸς G18 ὑπὲρ G5228 τὸν G3588 λέοντα G3023 τὸν G3588 νεκρόν. G3498 [5] Ὅτι G3754 οἱ G3588 ζῶντες G2198 γνώσονται G1097 ὅτι G3754 ἀποθανοῦνται, G599 καὶ G2532 οἱ G3588 νεκροὶ G3498 οὔκ G3756 εἰσιν G1526 γινώσκοντες G1097 οὐδέν· G3762 καὶ G2532 οὐκ G3756 ἔστιν G2076 αὐτοῖς G846 ἔτι G2089 μισθός, G3408 ὅτι G3754 ἐπελήσθη G1950 ἡ G3588 μνήμη G3420 αὐτῶν· G846 [6] καί G2532 γε G1065 ἀγάπη G26 αὐτῶν G846 καί G2532 γε G1065 μῖσος αὐτῶν G846 καί G2532 γε G1065 ζῆλος G2205 αὐτῶν G846 ἤδη G2235 ἀπώλετο, G622 καὶ G2532 μερὶς G3310 οὐκ G3756 ἔστιν G2076 αὐτοῖς G846 ἔτι G2089 εἰς G1519 αἰῶνα G165 ἐν G1722 παντὶ G3956 τῷ G3588 πεποιημένῳ G4160 ὑπὸ G5259 τὸν G3588 ἥλιον. G2246 [7] Δεῦρο G1204 φάγε G5315 ἐν G1722 εὐφροσύνῃ G2167 ἄρτον G740 σου G4675 καὶ G2532 πίε G4095 ἐν G1722 καρδίᾳ G2588 ἀγαθῇ G18 οἶνόν G3631 σου, G4675 ὅτι G3754 ἤδη G2235 εὐδόκησεν G2106 ὁ G3588 θεὸς G2316 τὰ G3588 ποιήματά G4161 σου. G4675 [8] Ἐν G1722 παντὶ G3956 καιρῷ G2540 ἔστωσαν G2077 ἱμάτιά G2440 σου G4675 λευκά, G3022 καὶ G2532 ἔλαιον G1637 ἐπὶ G1909 κεφαλήν G2776 σου G4675 μὴ G3361 ὑστερησάτω. G5302 [9] Ἰδὲ G1492 ζωὴν G2222 μετὰ G3326 γυναικός, G1135 ἧς G3739 ἠγάπησας, G25 πάσας G3956 ἡμέρας G2250 ζωῆς G2222 ματαιότητός G3153 σου G4675 τὰς G3588 δοθείσας G1325 σοι G4671 ὑπὸ G5259 τὸν G3588 ἥλιον, G2246 πάσας G3956 ἡμέρας G2250 ματαιότητός G3153 σου, G4675 ὅτι G3754 αὐτὸ G846 μερίς G3310 σου G4675 ἐν G1722 τῇ G3588 ζωῇ G2222 σου G4675 καὶ G2532 ἐν G1722 τῷ G3588 μόχθῳ G3449 σου, G4675 ᾧ G3739 σὺ G4771 μοχθεῖς ὑπὸ G5259 τὸν G3588 ἥλιον. G2246 [10] Πάντα, G3956 ὅσα G3745 ἂν G302 εὕρῃ G2147 ἡ G3588 χείρ G5495 σου G4675 τοῦ G3588 ποιῆσαι, G4160 ὡς G5613 ἡ G3588 δύναμίς G1411 σου G4675 ποίησον, G4160 ὅτι G3754 οὐκ G3756 ἔστιν G2076 ποίημα G4161 καὶ G2532 λογισμὸς G3053 καὶ G2532 γνῶσις G1108 καὶ G2532 σοφία G4678 ἐν G1722 ᾅδῃ, G86 ὅπου G3699 σὺ G4771 πορεύῃ G4198 ἐκεῖ. G1563 [11] Ἐπέστρεψα G1994 καὶ G2532 εἶδον G1492 ὑπὸ G5259 τὸν G3588 ἥλιον G2246 ὅτι G3754 οὐ G3756 τοῖς G3588 κούφοις ὁ G3588 δρόμος G1408 καὶ G2532 οὐ G3756 τοῖς G3588 δυνατοῖς G1415 ὁ G3588 πόλεμος G4171 καί G2532 γε G1065 οὐ G3756 τοῖς G3588 σοφοῖς G4680 ἄρτος G740 καί G2532 γε G1065 οὐ G3756 τοῖς G3588 συνετοῖς G4908 πλοῦτος G4149 καί G2532 γε G1065 οὐ G3756 τοῖς G3588 γινώσκουσιν G1097 χάρις, G5485 ὅτι G3754 καιρὸς G2540 καὶ G2532 ἀπάντημα συναντήσεται G4876 τοῖς G3588 πᾶσιν G3956 αὐτοῖς. G846 [12] Ὅτι G3754 καί G2532 γε G1065 οὐκ G3756 ἔγνω G1097 ὁ G3588 ἄνθρωπος G444 τὸν G3588 καιρὸν G2540 αὐτοῦ· G846 ὡς G5613 οἱ G3588 ἰχθύες G2486 οἱ G3588 θηρευόμενοι G2340 ἐν G1722 ἀμφιβλήστρῳ G293 κακῷ G2556 καὶ G2532 ὡς G5613 ὄρνεα G3732 τὰ G3588 θηρευόμενα G2340 ἐν G1722 παγίδι, G3803 ὡς G5613 αὐτὰ G846 παγιδεύονται G3802 οἱ G3588 υἱοὶ G5207 τοῦ G3588 ἀνθρώπου G444 εἰς G1519 καιρὸν G2540 πονηρόν, G4190 ὅταν G3752 ἐπιπέσῃ G1968 ἐπ’ G1909 αὐτοὺς G846 ἄφνω. G869 [13] Καί G2532 γε G1065 τοῦτο G5124 εἶδον G1492 σοφίαν G4678 ὑπὸ G5259 τὸν G3588 ἥλιον, G2246 καὶ G2532 μεγάλη G3173 ἐστὶν G2076 πρός G4314 με· G3165 [14] πόλις G4172 μικρὰ G3398 καὶ G2532 ἄνδρες G435 ἐν G1722 αὐτῇ G846 ὀλίγοι, G3641 καὶ G2532 ἔλθῃ G2064 ἐπ’ G1909 αὐτὴν G846 βασιλεὺς G935 μέγας G3173 καὶ G2532 κυκλώσῃ G2944 αὐτὴν G846 καὶ G2532 οἰκοδομήσῃ G3618 ἐπ’ G1909 αὐτὴν G846 χάρακας G5482 μεγάλους· G3173 [15] καὶ G2532 εὕρῃ G2147 ἐν G1722 αὐτῇ G846 ἄνδρα G435 πένητα G3993 σοφόν, G4680 καὶ G2532 διασώσει G1295 αὐτὸς G846 τὴν G3588 πόλιν G4172 ἐν G1722 τῇ G3588 σοφίᾳ G4678 αὐτοῦ· G846 καὶ G2532 ἄνθρωπος G444 οὐκ G3756 ἐμνήσθη G3415 σὺν G4862 τοῦ G3588 ἀνδρὸς G435 τοῦ G3588 πένητος G3993 ἐκείνου. G1565 [16] Καὶ G2532 εἶπα G2036 ἐγώ G1473 Ἀγαθὴ G18 σοφία G4678 ὑπὲρ G5228 δύναμιν· G1411 καὶ G2532 σοφία G4678 τοῦ G3588 πένητος G3993 ἐξουδενωμένη, G1847 καὶ G2532 λόγοι G3056 αὐτοῦ G846 οὔκ G3756 εἰσιν G1526 ἀκουόμενοι. G191 [17] Λόγοι G3056 σοφῶν G4680 ἐν G1722 ἀναπαύσει G372 ἀκούονται G191 ὑπὲρ G5228 κραυγὴν G2906 ἐξουσιαζόντων G1850 ἐν G1722 ἀφροσύναις. G877 [18] Ἀγαθὴ G18 σοφία G4678 ὑπὲρ G5228 σκεύη G4632 πολέμου, G4171 καὶ G2532 ἁμαρτάνων G264 εἷς G1520 ἀπολέσει G622 ἀγαθωσύνην G19 πολλήν. G4183
Septuaginta, in place of Byzantine Greek New Testament