| New King James Version | International Standard Version |
| 1For I considered all this in my heart, so that I could declare it all: that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God. People know neither love nor hatred by anything they see before them. | 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. |
| 2All things come alike to all: One event happens to the righteous and the wicked; To the good, the clean, and the unclean; To him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; He who takes an oath as he who fears an oath. | 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. |
| 3This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead. | 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. |
| 4But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. | 4"While someone is among the living, hope remains," because "it is better to be a living dog than to be a dead lion." |
| 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. | 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. |
| 6Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun. | 6Furthermore, their love, their hate, and their envy have been long lost. Never again will they have a part in what happens on earth. |
| 7Go, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works. | 7Go ahead and enjoy your meals as you eat. Drink your wine with a joyful attitude, because God already has approved your actions. |
| 8Let your garments always be white, And let your head lack no oil. | 8Always keep your garments white, and don't fail to anoint your head. |
| 9Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun. | 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. |
| 10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. | 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. |
| 11I returned and 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 men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all. | 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. |
| 12For man also does not know his time: Like fish taken in a cruel net, Like birds caught in a snare, So the sons of men are snared in an evil time, When it falls suddenly upon them. | 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. |
| 13This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed great to me: | 13I also observed this example of wisdom on earth, and it seemed important to me: |
| 14There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it. | 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. |
| 15Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man. | 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. |
| 16Then I said: “Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, And his words are not heard. | 16So I concluded, "Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless, the wisdom of the poor is rejected—his words are never heard." |
| 17Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools. | 17The softly spoken words of the wise are to be heard rather than the shouts of a ruler of fools. |
| 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war; But one sinner destroys much good.” | 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, and a single sinner can destroy a lot of good. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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