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Ecclesiastes 6:7-9:11
English Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 6:7-9:11
English Standard Version
7 (A)All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.[a] 8 For what advantage has the wise man (B)over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living? 9 Better (C)is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is (D)vanity and a striving after wind.
10 Whatever has come to be has (E)already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to (F)dispute with one stronger than he. 11 The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? 12 For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his (G)vain[b] life, which he passes like (H)a shadow? For who can tell man what will be (I)after him under the sun?
The Contrast of Wisdom and Folly
7 (J)A good name is better than precious ointment,
and (K)the day of death than the day of birth.
2 It is better to go to the house of mourning
than to go to the house of feasting,
for this is the end of all mankind,
and the living will (L)lay it to heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter,
(M)for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5 It is (N)better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise
than to hear the song of fools.
6 (O)For as the crackling of (P)thorns under a pot,
so is the laughter of the fools;
this also is vanity.[c]
7 Surely (Q)oppression drives the wise into madness,
and (R)a bribe corrupts the heart.
8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning,
and (S)the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9 (T)Be not quick in your spirit to become angry,
(U)for anger lodges in the heart[d] of fools.
10 Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?”
For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance,
an advantage to those who (V)see the sun.
12 For the protection of wisdom is like (W)the protection of money,
and the advantage of knowledge is that (X)wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
13 Consider (Y)the work of God:
(Z)who can make straight what he has made crooked?
14 (AA)In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, (AB)so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.
15 In my (AC)vain[e] life I have seen everything. There is (AD)a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who (AE)prolongs his life in his evildoing. 16 Be not overly righteous, and do not (AF)make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? 17 Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. (AG)Why should you die before your time? 18 It is good that you should take hold of (AH)this, and from (AI)that (AJ)withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.
19 (AK)Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
20 Surely (AL)there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
21 Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear (AM)your servant cursing you. 22 Your heart knows that (AN)many times you yourself have cursed others.
23 All this I have tested by wisdom. (AO)I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. 24 That which has been is far off, and (AP)deep, very deep; (AQ)who can find it out?
25 (AR)I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness. 26 And I find something more (AS)bitter than death: (AT)the woman whose heart is (AU)snares and nets, and whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God escapes her, but (AV)the sinner is taken by her. 27 Behold, this is what I found, says (AW)the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things— 28 which my soul has sought repeatedly, but I have not found. (AX)One man among a thousand I found, but (AY)a woman among all these I have not found. 29 See, this alone I found, that (AZ)God made man upright, but (BA)they have sought out many schemes.
Keep the King's Command
8 Who is like the wise?
And who knows the interpretation of a thing?
(BB)A man's wisdom makes his face shine,
and (BC)the hardness of his face is changed.
2 I say:[f] Keep the king's command, because of (BD)God's oath to him.[g] 3 Be not hasty to (BE)go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases. 4 For the word of the king is supreme, and (BF)who may say to him, “What are you doing?” 5 Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.[h] 6 For there is a time and a way (BG)for everything, although man's trouble[i] lies heavy on him. 7 For he (BH)does not know what is to be, for (BI)who can tell him how it will be? 8 No man has power to (BJ)retain the spirit, (BK)or power over the day of death. There is no (BL)discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it. 9 (BM)All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt.
Those Who Fear God Will Do Well
10 Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of (BN)the holy place and were (BO)praised[j] in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity.[k] 11 Because (BP)the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, (BQ)the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. 12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and (BR)prolongs his life, yet I know that (BS)it will be well with (BT)those who fear God, because they fear before him. 13 But it will (BU)not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like (BV)a shadow, because he does not fear before God.
Man Cannot Know God's Ways
14 There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people (BW)to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people (BX)to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. 15 And I commend joy, for man (BY)has nothing better under the sun but to (BZ)eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.
16 When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see (CA)the business that is done on earth, how neither (CB)day nor night do one's eyes see sleep, 17 then I saw all the work of God, that (CC)man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, (CD)he cannot find it out.
Death Comes to All
9 But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, (CE)how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are (CF)in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him. 2 (CG)It is the same for all, since (CH)the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil,[l] 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 (CI)swears is as he who shuns an oath. 3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that (CJ)the same event happens to all. Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and (CK)madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead. 4 But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5 For the living know that they will die, but (CL)the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for (CM)the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Their 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.
Enjoy Life with the One You Love
7 Go, (CN)eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.
8 (CO)Let your garments be always white. Let not (CP)oil be lacking on your head.
9 Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your (CQ)vain[m] life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your (CR)portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, (CS)do it with your might,[n] (CT)for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.
Wisdom Better Than Folly
11 (CU)Again I saw that under the sun (CV)the race is not to the swift, nor (CW)the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and (CX)chance (CY)happen to them all.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 6:7 Hebrew filled
- Ecclesiastes 6:12 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)
- Ecclesiastes 7:6 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)
- Ecclesiastes 7:9 Hebrew in the bosom
- Ecclesiastes 7:15 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)
- Ecclesiastes 8:2 Hebrew lacks say
- Ecclesiastes 8:2 Or because of your oath to God
- Ecclesiastes 8:5 Or and judgment
- Ecclesiastes 8:6 Or evil
- Ecclesiastes 8:10 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts forgotten
- Ecclesiastes 8:10 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath”; also twice in verse 14 (see note on 1:2)
- Ecclesiastes 9:2 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew lacks and the evil
- Ecclesiastes 9:9 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)
- Ecclesiastes 9:10 Or finds to do with your might, do it
Ecclesiastes 6:7-9:11
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 6:7-9:11
New International Version
7 Everyone’s toil is for their mouth,
yet their appetite is never satisfied.(A)
8 What advantage have the wise over fools?(B)
What do the poor gain
by knowing how to conduct themselves before others?
9 Better what the eye sees
than the roving of the appetite.
This too is meaningless,
a chasing after the wind.(C)
10 Whatever exists has already been named,(D)
and what humanity is has been known;
no one can contend
with someone who is stronger.
11 The more the words,
the less the meaning,
and how does that profit anyone?
12 For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days(E) they pass through like a shadow?(F) Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?
Wisdom
7 A good name is better than fine perfume,(G)
and the day of death better than the day of birth.(H)
2 It is better to go to a house of mourning
than to go to a house of feasting,
for death(I) is the destiny(J) of everyone;
the living should take this to heart.
3 Frustration is better than laughter,(K)
because a sad face is good for the heart.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.(L)
5 It is better to heed the rebuke(M) of a wise person
than to listen to the song of fools.
6 Like the crackling of thorns(N) under the pot,
so is the laughter(O) of fools.
This too is meaningless.
7 Extortion turns a wise person into a fool,
and a bribe(P) corrupts the heart.
8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
and patience(Q) is better than pride.
9 Do not be quickly provoked(R) in your spirit,
for anger resides in the lap of fools.(S)
10 Do not say, “Why were the old days(T) better than these?”
For it is not wise to ask such questions.
11 Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing(U)
and benefits those who see the sun.(V)
12 Wisdom is a shelter
as money is a shelter,
but the advantage of knowledge is this:
Wisdom preserves those who have it.
13 Consider what God has done:(W)
Who can straighten
what he has made crooked?(X)
14 When times are good, be happy;
but when times are bad, consider this:
God has made the one
as well as the other.(Y)
Therefore, no one can discover
anything about their future.
15 In this meaningless life(Z) of mine I have seen both of these:
the righteous perishing in their righteousness,
and the wicked living long in their wickedness.(AA)
16 Do not be overrighteous,
neither be overwise—
why destroy yourself?
17 Do not be overwicked,
and do not be a fool—
why die before your time?(AB)
18 It is good to grasp the one
and not let go of the other.
Whoever fears God(AC) will avoid all extremes.[a]
20 Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous,(AF)
no one who does what is right and never sins.(AG)
21 Do not pay attention to every word people say,
or you(AH) may hear your servant cursing you—
22 for you know in your heart
that many times you yourself have cursed others.
23 All this I tested by wisdom and I said,
“I am determined to be wise”(AI)—
but this was beyond me.
24 Whatever exists is far off and most profound—
who can discover it?(AJ)
25 So I turned my mind to understand,
to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things(AK)
and to understand the stupidity of wickedness
and the madness of folly.(AL)
26 I find more bitter than death
the woman who is a snare,(AM)
whose heart is a trap
and whose hands are chains.
The man who pleases God will escape her,
but the sinner she will ensnare.(AN)
27 “Look,” says the Teacher,[b](AO) “this is what I have discovered:
“Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things—
28 while I was still searching
but not finding—
I found one upright man among a thousand,
but not one upright woman(AP) among them all.
29 This only have I found:
God created mankind upright,
but they have gone in search of many schemes.”
8 Who is like the wise?
Who knows the explanation of things?
A person’s wisdom brightens their face
and changes its hard appearance.
Obey the King
2 Obey the king’s command, I say, because you took an oath before God. 3 Do not be in a hurry to leave the king’s presence.(AQ) Do not stand up for a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases. 4 Since a king’s word is supreme, who can say to him, “What are you doing?(AR)”
5 Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm,
and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.
6 For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter,(AS)
though a person may be weighed down by misery.
7 Since no one knows the future,
who can tell someone else what is to come?
8 As no one has power over the wind to contain it,
so[c] no one has power over the time of their death.
As no one is discharged in time of war,
so wickedness will not release those who practice it.
9 All this I saw, as I applied my mind to everything done under the sun. There is a time when a man lords it over others to his own[d] hurt. 10 Then too, I saw the wicked buried(AT)—those who used to come and go from the holy place and receive praise[e] in the city where they did this. This too is meaningless.
11 When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong. 12 Although a wicked person who commits a hundred crimes may live a long time, I know that it will go better(AU) with those who fear God,(AV) who are reverent before him.(AW) 13 Yet because the wicked do not fear God,(AX) it will not go well with them, and their days(AY) will not lengthen like a shadow.
14 There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve.(AZ) This too, I say, is meaningless.(BA) 15 So I commend the enjoyment of life(BB), because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink(BC) and be glad.(BD) Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.
16 When I applied my mind to know wisdom(BE) and to observe the labor that is done on earth(BF)—people getting no sleep day or night— 17 then I saw all that God has done.(BG) No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can discover its meaning. Even if the wise claim they know, they cannot really comprehend it.(BH)
A Common Destiny for All
9 So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God’s hands, but no one knows whether love or hate awaits them.(BI) 2 All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad,[f] the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not.
As it is with the good,
so with the sinful;
as it is with those who take oaths,
so with those who are afraid to take them.(BJ)
3 This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all.(BK) The hearts of people, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live,(BL) and afterward they join the dead.(BM) 4 Anyone who is among the living has hope[g]—even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!
5 For the living know that they will die,
but the dead know nothing;(BN)
they have no further reward,
and even their name(BO) is forgotten.(BP)
6 Their love, their hate
and their jealousy have long since vanished;
never again will they have a part
in anything that happens under the sun.(BQ)
7 Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine(BR) with a joyful heart,(BS) for God has already approved what you do. 8 Always be clothed in white,(BT) and always anoint your head with oil. 9 Enjoy life with your wife,(BU) whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your lot(BV) in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun. 10 Whatever(BW) your hand finds to do, do it with all your might,(BX) for in the realm of the dead,(BY) where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.(BZ)
11 I have seen something else under the sun:
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 7:18 Or will follow them both
- Ecclesiastes 7:27 Or the leader of the assembly
- Ecclesiastes 8:8 Or over the human spirit to retain it, / and so
- Ecclesiastes 8:9 Or to their
- Ecclesiastes 8:10 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint (Aquila); most Hebrew manuscripts and are forgotten
- Ecclesiastes 9:2 Septuagint (Aquila), Vulgate and Syriac; Hebrew does not have and the bad.
- Ecclesiastes 9:4 Or What then is to be chosen? With all who live, there is hope
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.