In the Father's Hand
9 1 I took all this to heart and examined it carefully: that the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hatred, no one knows; everything lies before them. 2 Everything comes alike to all: one fate befalls the righteous and the wicked, the good and clean and unclean, the one who sacrifices and the one who does not. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner; the one who swears is like the one who is afraid to swear. 3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one fate comes to everyone. The hearts of people are also full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead. 4 But whoever is still among the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5 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. 6 Their love and their hatred and their envy have already perished, and never again will they have a share in all that is done under the sun.
7 Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a glad heart, for God has already approved what you do. 8 Let your garments always be white, and let your head never lack oil. a a v8 White clothing and anointing the head with oil were ancient marks of joy and celebration. 9 Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your fleeting life that he has given you under the sun, all your fleeting days; for that is your portion in life and in the toil at which you labor under the sun. 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom in the grave, where you are going. b b v10 Sheol: the Hebrew name for the realm of the dead.
11 Again I saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the discerning, nor favor to those of skill; but time and chance happen to them all. 12 For no one knows their time. Like fish caught in a cruel net, and like birds taken in a snare, so people are ensnared at an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them.
The Forgotten Wise Man
13 I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me: 14 There was a little city with few people in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it. 15 But there was found in it a poor wise man, and by his wisdom he saved the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. 16 So I said, "Wisdom is better than strength," yet the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. 17 The quiet words of the wise are heard better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.