Ecclesiastes 9 (NET)

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 LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

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 LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

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 LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

Ecclesiastes 9:4⁴But whoever is among the living has hope; a live dog is better than a dead lion.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

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 LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

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 LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

Ecclesiastes 9:7⁷Go, eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, because God has already approved your works.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

Ecclesiastes 9:8⁸Let your clothes always be white, and do not spare precious ointment on your head.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

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 LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

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 LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

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 LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

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 LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

Ecclesiastes 9:13¹³This is what I also observed about wisdom on earth, and it is a great burden to me:Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

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 LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

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 LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

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 LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

Ecclesiastes 9:17¹⁷The words of the wise are heard in quiet, more than the shouting of a ruler is heard among fools.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

Ecclesiastes 9:18¹⁸Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much that is good.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions