Ecclesiastes 9:5-11

English Standard Version

⁵ 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. 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, ^(C)eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.

^8 (D)Let your garments be always white. Let not ^(E)oil be lacking on your head.

⁹ Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your ^(F)vain^[a] life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your ^(G)portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. ¹⁰ Whatever your hand finds to do, ^(H)do it with your might,^{[b] (I)}for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.

Wisdom Better Than Folly

^11 (J)Again I saw that under the sun ^(K)the race is not to the swift, nor ^(L)the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and ^(M)chance ^(N)happen to them all.