| International Standard Version | English Standard Version |
| 1In light of all of this, I committed myself to explain it this way: the righteous and the wise, along with everything they do, are in the hands of God. Furthermore, as to love and hate, no human being knows everything concerning them. | 1But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him. |
| 2Everyone shares the same experience: a single event affects the righteous, the wicked, the good, the clean, the unclean, whoever sacrifices, and whoever does not sacrifice. As it is with the good person, so also it is with the sinner; as it is with someone who takes an oath, so also it is with someone who fears taking an oath. | 2It is the same for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As the good one is, so is the sinner, and he who swears is as he who shuns an oath. |
| 3There is a tragedy that infects everything that happens on earth: a common event happens to everyone. In fact, the hearts of human beings are full of evil. Madness remains in their hearts while they live, and afterwards they join the dead. | 3This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all. Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead. |
| 4"While someone is among the living, hope remains," because "it is better to be a living dog than to be a dead lion." | 4But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. |
| 5At least the living know they will die, but the dead know nothing; they no longer have a reward, since memory about them has been forgotten. | 5For 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. |
| 6Furthermore, their love, their hate, and their envy have been long lost. Never again will they have a part in what happens on earth. | 6Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more share in all that is done under the sun. |
| 7Go ahead and enjoy your meals as you eat. Drink your wine with a joyful attitude, because God already has approved your actions. | 7Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do. |
| 8Always keep your garments white, and don't fail to anoint your head. | 8Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head. |
| 9Find joy in living with your wife whom you love every day of your pointless life that God gave you on earth, because this is your life assignment and your work to do on earth. | 9Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. |
| 10Whatever the activity in which you engage, do it with all your ability, because there is no work, no planning, no learning, and no wisdom in the next world where you're going. | 10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going. |
| 11I considered and observed on earth the following: The race doesn't go to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor food to the wise, nor wealth to the smart, nor recognition to the skilled. Instead, timing and circumstances meet them all. | 11Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. |
| 12In addition, no human being knows his time: Like fish captured in a cruel net, or as birds caught in a snare, so also are human beings caught by bad timing that surprises them. | 12For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them. |
| 13I also observed this example of wisdom on earth, and it seemed important to me: | 13I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me. |
| 14There was a little city with few men in it. A great king came against it, surrounded it, and built massive siege ramps against it. | 14There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it. |
| 15Now there was found within it a poor, but wise man. He delivered the city by his wisdom, but not one person remembered that poor man. | 15But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. |
| 16So I concluded, "Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless, the wisdom of the poor is rejected—his words are never heard." | 16But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heard. |
| 17The softly spoken words of the wise are to be heard rather than the shouts of a ruler of fools. | 17The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. |
| 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, and a single sinner can destroy a lot of good. | 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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