| Holman Christian Standard Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Indeed, I took all this to heart and explained it all: the righteous, the wise, and their works are in God's hands.People don't know whether to expect love or hate. Everything lies ahead of them. | 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. |
| 2Everything is the same for everyone: there is one 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 sacrifice. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner; as for the one who takes an oath, so for the one who fears an oath. | 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. |
| 3This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: there is one fate for everyone. In addition, the hearts of people are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live--after that they go to the dead. | 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. |
| 4But there is hope for whoever is joined with all the living, since a live dog is better than a dead lion. | 4There is hope, however, for anyone who is among the living; for even a live dog is better than a dead lion. |
| 5For the living know that they will die, but the dead don't know anything. There is no longer a reward for them because the memory of them is forgotten. | 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. |
| 6Their love, their hate, and their envy have already disappeared, and there is no longer a portion for them in all that is done under the sun. | 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. |
| 7Go, eat your bread with pleasure, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already accepted your works. | 7Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already approved your works: |
| 8Let your clothes be white all the time, and never let oil be lacking on your head. | 8Let your garments always be white, and never spare the oil for your head. |
| 9Enjoy life with the wife you love all the days of your fleeting life, which has been given to you under the sun, all your fleeting days. For that is your portion in life and in your struggle under the sun. | 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. |
| 10Whatever your hands find to do, do with all your strength, because there is no work, planning, knowledge, or wisdom in Sheol where you are going. | 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. |
| 11Again I saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, or the battle to the strong, or bread to the wise, or riches to the discerning, or favor to the skillful; rather, time and chance happen to all of them. | 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. |
| 12For man certainly does not know his time: like fish caught in a cruel net or like birds caught in a trap, so people are trapped in an evil time as it suddenly falls on 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. |
| 13I have observed that this also is wisdom under the sun, and it is significant to me: | 13I have also seen this wisdom under the sun, and it was great to me: |
| 14There was a small city with few men in it. A great king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege works against it. | 14There was a small city with few men. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege ramps against it. |
| 15Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man. | 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. |
| 16And I said, "Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded." | 16And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.” |
| 17The calm words of the wise are heeded more than the shouts of a ruler over fools. | 17The calm words of the wise are heeded over the shouts of a ruler among fools. |
| 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much good. | 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good. |
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