But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

For the living know that they will die;
But (A)the dead know nothing,
And they have no more reward,
For (B)the memory of them is forgotten.
Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished;
Nevermore will they have a share
In anything done under the sun.

Go, (C)eat your bread with joy,
And drink your wine with a merry heart;
For God has already accepted your works.
Let your garments always be white,
And let your head lack no oil.

[a]Live 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; (D)for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun.

10 (E)Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your (F)might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 9:9 Lit. See life

[a]For to him that is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. As well their love, as their hatred and their envy, is perished long ago; neither have they any more a portion for ever in anything that is done under the sun. Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God hath already accepted thy works. Let thy garments be always white; and let not thy head lack oil. [b]Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of thy life of vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all thy days of vanity: for that is thy portion in life, and in thy labor wherein thou laborest under the sun. 10 Whatsoever thy hand [c]findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, whither thou goest.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 9:4 Another reading is, For who is exempted? With all etc., or who can choose? With all etc.
  2. Ecclesiastes 9:9 Or, Enjoy (Hebrew See) life
  3. Ecclesiastes 9:10 Or, attaineth to do by they strength, that do

Anyone who is among the living has hope[a]—even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!

For the living know that they will die,
    but the dead know nothing;(A)
they have no further reward,
    and even their name(B) is forgotten.(C)
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.(D)

Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine(E) with a joyful heart,(F) for God has already approved what you do. Always be clothed in white,(G) and always anoint your head with oil. Enjoy life with your wife,(H) 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(I) in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun. 10 Whatever(J) your hand finds to do, do it with all your might,(K) for in the realm of the dead,(L) where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.(M)

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 9:4 Or What then is to be chosen? With all who live, there is hope