Ecclesiastes 9 (NET)

NET Bible® Scripture text without NET Bible notes. Verse anchors allow direct linking to exact verses.

Ecclesiastes 9:1¹So I reflected on all this, attempting to clear it all up. I concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their works, are in the hand of God; whether a person will be loved or hated — no one knows what lies ahead.Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions Ask AICross Refs:Deut 33:3 John 10:27-30 1 Pet 1:5 Eccl 7:15 Eccl 8:14 Job 12:10

Ecclesiastes 9:2²Everyone shares the same fate — the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the ceremonially clean and unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not. What happens to the good person, also happens to the sinner; what happens to those who make vows, also happens to those who are afraid to make vows.Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions Ask AICross Refs:Mal 3:18 Eccl 2:14-16 Job 9:22 Mal 3:5 Ps 73:3 Mal 3:15 Eccl 2:26 Eccl 6:6 Eccl 7:18 Eccl 7:2

Ecclesiastes 9:3³This is the unfortunate fact about everything that happens on earth: the same fate awaits everyone. In addition to this, the hearts of all people are full of evil, and there is folly in their hearts during their lives—then they die.Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions Ask AICross Refs:Jer 17:9 Eccl 8:11 Eccl 1:17 Job 15:16 Ps 51:5 Rom 1:29-31 Titus 3:3 2 Pet 2:16 Acts 12:23 Acts 26:24

Ecclesiastes 9:4⁴But whoever is among the living has hope; a live dog is better than a dead lion.Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions Ask AICross Refs:Job 14:7-12 Isa 38:18 Luke 16:26-29 Lam 3:21-22 Job 27:8

Ecclesiastes 9:5⁵For the living know that they will die, but the dead do not know anything; they have no further reward—and even the memory of them disappears.Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions Ask AICross Refs:Isa 26:14 Eccl 1:11 Ps 6:5 Ps 88:10-12 Heb 9:27 Job 14:21 Ps 109:15 Eccl 2:16 Eccl 8:10 Isa 63:16

Ecclesiastes 9:6⁶What they loved, as well as what they hated and envied, perished long ago, and they no longer have a part in anything that happens on earth.Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions Ask AICross Refs:Ps 146:3-4 Eccl 6:12 Job 3:17-18 Matt 2:20 Eccl 2:18-23 Exod 1:8 Prov 10:28

Ecclesiastes 9:9⁹Enjoy life with your beloved wife during all the days of your fleeting life that God has given you on earth during all your fleeting days; for that is your reward in life and in your burdensome work on earth.Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions Ask AICross Refs:Prov 5:18-19 Eccl 2:10 Eccl 6:12 Mal 2:15 Eccl 3:13 Eccl 2:24 Eccl 3:22 Eccl 5:18 Eccl 7:15 Prov 18:22

Ecclesiastes 9:10¹⁰Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, because there is neither work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave, the place where you will eventually go.Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions Ask AICross Refs:Col 3:23 Eph 5:16 Rom 12:11 Ps 6:5 2 Chr 31:20-21 Eccl 11:6 1 Cor 9:24 Jer 29:13 John 9:4 Matt 6:33

Ecclesiastes 9:11¹¹Again, I observed this on the earth: the race is not always won by the swiftest, the battle is not always won by the strongest; prosperity does not always belong to those who are the wisest, wealth does not always belong to those who are the most discerning, nor does success always come to those with the most knowledge— for time and chance may overcome them all.Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions Ask AICross Refs:Jer 9:23 Prov 21:30-31 Job 5:11-14 Lam 3:37-38 Eccl 3:17 Amos 2:14-16 Eccl 3:14 Ps 147:10-11 Eph 1:11 2 Chr 20:15

Ecclesiastes 9:12¹²Surely, no one knows his appointed time. Like fish that are caught in a deadly net, and like birds that are caught in a snare— just like them, all people are ensnared at an unfortunate time that falls upon them suddenly.Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions Ask AICross Refs:1 Thess 5:3 Luke 21:34-36 Eccl 8:5-7 Prov 29:6 Prov 6:15 2 Cor 6:2 2 Tim 2:26 Job 18:8-10 Luke 12:20 Prov 7:22-23

Ecclesiastes 9:13¹³This is what I also observed about wisdom on earth, and it is a great burden to me:Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions Ask AICross Refs:Eccl 8:16 Eccl 6:1 Eccl 7:15 Eccl 9:11

Ecclesiastes 9:14¹⁴There was once a small city with a few men in it, and a mighty king attacked it, besieging it and building strong siege works against it.Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions Ask AICross Refs:2 Kgs 6:24-7:20 2 Sam 20:15-22

Ecclesiastes 9:15¹⁵However, a poor but wise man lived in the city, and he could have delivered the city by his wisdom, but no one listened to that poor man.Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions Ask AICross Refs:Eccl 4:13 Gen 40:23 Esth 6:2-3 2 Sam 20:22 Eccl 2:16

Ecclesiastes 9:16¹⁶So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, but a poor man’s wisdom is despised; no one ever listens to his advice.Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions Ask AICross Refs:Eccl 7:19 Prov 24:5 Prov 21:22 Mark 6:2-3 1 Cor 1:26-29 Jas 2:2-6 Eccl 9:18 John 7:47-49 Prov 10:15 John 9:24-34

Ecclesiastes 9:17¹⁷The words of the wise are heard in quiet, more than the shouting of a ruler is heard among fools.Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions Ask AICross Refs:Jas 3:17-18 Prov 28:23 Isa 42:2 Jas 1:20 1 Sam 7:3-6 Gen 41:33-40

Study Ecclesiastes 9

Open the full commentary units for this chapter: Ecclesiastes 9:1-12; Ecclesiastes 9:13-10:20.

Open the lite commentary units for this chapter: Ecclesiastes 9:1-12; Ecclesiastes 9:13-10:20.

Open the simple commentary units for this chapter: Ecclesiastes 9:1-12; Ecclesiastes 9:13-10:20.

Read the book-level overview and orientation.