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Ecclesiastes 9
Lexham English Bible
Ecclesiastes 9
Lexham English Bible
The Same Fate—Death—Awaits Everyone
9 So all this I laid to my heart, and I concluded[a] that the righteous and the wise, as well as their deeds, are in the hand of God. So no one knows anything that will come to them, whether it will be love or hatred. 2 The same fate comes to everyone:
to the righteous and to the wicked,
to the good and to the wicked,[b]
to the clean and to the unclean,
to those who sacrifice and to those who do not sacrifice.
As with the good man, so also to the sinner;
as with those who swear an oath, so also those who fear oaths.
3 This is the injustice[c] that is done under the sun:
the same fate comes to everyone.
Also the hearts of humans[d] are full of evil;
delusion is in their hearts during their lives, and then they die.
Death Deprives Humans of Everything in Life
4 Whoever is joined[e] to all the living has hope. After all, even a live dog is better than a dead lion! 5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead do not know anything. They no longer have a reward, and even the memory of them is forgotten. 6 What they loved and hated, as well as what they desired, has already perished. They no longer have any share in what is done under the sun.
Enjoy Life While It Lasts
7 Go—eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart! For God already has approved your deeds. 8 Always be clothed in white garments, and never let your head lack oil! 9 Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which he gives you under the sun, because this is your lot in life and in the toil with which you toil under the sun. 10 Whatever your hand finds to do—do it with all your might; for in Sheol—where you are going—no one works, plans, knows, or thinks about anything.
The Injustice of Time and Chance
11 I looked again and saw under the sun that the race does not belong to the swift, the battle does not belong to the mighty, food does not belong to the wise, wealth does not belong to the intelligent, and success[f] does not belong to the skillful, for time and chance befalls all of them. 12 For man does not know his time. Just as fish are caught in a cruel net and like birds who are seized in a snare, so also humans[g] are ensnared at a cruel time when it falls suddenly upon them.
Wisdom—Although Vulnerable—is Superior to Power
13 I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me. 14 There was a small city with few people in it. A great king came and besieged it, building great siege works against it. 15 Now, a poor wise man was found in it, and he delivered the city by his wisdom. 16 So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, yet the wisdom of the poor is despised, and his words are not heard.
Wisdom—Although Vulnerable—is Superior to Folly
17 The words of the wise are heard in peace
more than the shouting of a ruler is heard among the fools.
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war,
but one sinner destroys much good.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 9:1 Or “examined”
- Ecclesiastes 9:2 Several versions (Greek, Syriac, Latin) insert “and to the bad”
- Ecclesiastes 9:3 Literally “evil”
- Ecclesiastes 9:3 Literally “the sons of the man”
- Ecclesiastes 9:4 The Kethib reads “chosen,” but the Qere as well as all the versions and numerous medieval Hebrew manuscripts read “joined”
- Ecclesiastes 9:11 Or “favor”
- Ecclesiastes 9:12 Literally “the sons of the man”
Ecclesiastes 9
New King James Version
Ecclesiastes 9
New King James Version
Death Comes to All
9 For I [a]considered all this in my heart, so that I could declare it all: (A)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. 2 (B)All things come alike to all:
One event happens to the righteous and the wicked;
To the [b]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.
3 This 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. 4 But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
5 For the living know that they will die;
But (C)the dead know nothing,
And they have no more reward,
For (D)the memory of them is forgotten.
6 Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished;
Nevermore will they have a share
In anything done under the sun.
7 Go, (E)eat your bread with joy,
And drink your wine with a merry heart;
For God has already accepted your works.
8 Let your garments always be white,
And let your head lack no oil.
9 [c]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; (F)for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun.
10 (G)Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your (H)might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.
11 I returned (I)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 (J)chance happen to them all.
12 For (K)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 (L)snared in an evil time,
When it falls suddenly upon them.
Wisdom Superior to Folly
13 This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed great to me: 14 (M)There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great [d]snares around it. 15 Now 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.
16 Then I said:
“Wisdom is better than (N)strength.
Nevertheless (O)the poor man’s wisdom is despised,
And his words are not heard.
17 Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard
Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools.
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war;
But (P)one sinner destroys much good.”
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 9:1 Lit. put
- Ecclesiastes 9:2 LXX, Syr., Vg. good and bad,
- Ecclesiastes 9:9 Lit. See life
- Ecclesiastes 9:14 LXX, Syr., Vg. bulwarks
Ecclésiaste 9
La Bible du Semeur
Ecclésiaste 9
La Bible du Semeur
L’assurance du juste
9 Oui, j’ai beaucoup réfléchi à tout cela, et tout ce que j’ai compris, c’est que les justes, les sages et tous leurs travaux sont dans la main de Dieu.
A quoi conduit la perspective de la mort
Un même sort pour tous
L’homme ne sait pas s’il rencontrera l’amour ou la haine : il peut tout envisager. 2 Tout est pareil pour tous : un même sort atteint le juste et le méchant, celui qui est [bon et][a] pur, et celui qui est impur, celui qui offre des sacrifices et celui qui n’en offre pas, le bon comme le pécheur, et celui qui prête serment comme celui qui n’ose pas le faire. 3 Parmi tout ce qui se passe sous le soleil, voilà bien un mal : c’est que tous les hommes connaissent un sort identique. Car à cause de cela, le cœur des humains est rempli de méchanceté et la déraison habite leur cœur tout au long de leur vie. C’est qu’après cela, on va rejoindre les morts !
4 Alors que doit-on choisir ? Pour tous les vivants, il y a de l’espoir. Un chien vivant vaut mieux qu’un lion mort. 5 En effet, les vivants savent qu’ils mourront, mais les morts ne savent rien du tout ; ils n’ont plus rien à gagner, ils sombrent dans l’oubli. 6 Leurs amours, leurs haines, leurs désirs, se sont déjà évanouis. Ils n’auront plus jamais part à tout ce qui se fait sous le soleil.
Appel à bien profiter de sa vie
7 Va, mange ton pain dans la joie et bois ton vin d’un cœur content, car Dieu a déjà agréé tes œuvres ! 8 Qu’en tout temps tes vêtements soient blancs et que le parfum ne manque pas sur ta tête[b]. 9 Jouis de la vie avec la femme que tu aimes, pendant tous les jours de cette vie dérisoire que Dieu t’accorde sous le soleil, oui, pendant tous les jours de ton existence dérisoire, car c’est la part qui te revient dans la vie au milieu de tout le labeur pour lequel tu te donnes de la peine sous le soleil[c].
10 Tout ce que tu trouves à faire, fais-le avec l’énergie que tu as, car il n’y a plus ni activité, ni réflexion, ni science, ni sagesse dans le séjour des morts vers lequel tu es en route.
Les limites de la sagesse et la nécessité de prendre des risques
11 J’ai encore observé, sous le soleil, que ce ne sont pas les plus agiles qui gagnent la course, ni les plus forts qui remportent la victoire au combat, ce ne sont pas les sages qui ont du pain, et la richesse n’appartient pas aux hommes intelligents, et les faveurs ne récompensent pas les plus savants, car les contretemps et les coups durs imprévus atteignent chacun[d].
12 En effet, l’homme ne sait pas ce qui l’attend, il est pareil aux poissons qui sont pris dans des filets pour leur malheur, il ressemble aux oiseaux pris au piège : les humains sont surpris par le malheur, qui fond sur eux à l’improviste.
La sagesse du pauvre
13 A l’égard de la sagesse, j’ai encore observé sous le soleil quelque chose qui me paraît frappant. 14 Il y avait une petite ville n’ayant que peu d’habitants. Un roi puissant marcha contre elle, l’assiégea et dressa contre elle des travaux de siège considérables.
15 Dans la ville se trouvait un homme pauvre mais sage qui aurait pu sauver la ville grâce à sa sagesse. Mais personne ne pensa à cet homme pauvre[e]. 16 Alors, je me suis dit : « La sagesse vaut mieux que la force, mais la sagesse du pauvre est méprisée et ses paroles ne sont pas écoutées. »
Garder son calme
17 La voix du sage qui s’exprime dans le calme est plus écoutée que les cris d’un chef parmi des insensés.
La sagesse gâchée par la folie
18 La sagesse vaut mieux qu’un équipement militaire, mais un seul pécheur peut anéantir beaucoup de bien.
Footnotes
- 9.2 Selon le texte hébreu traditionnel. L’ancienne version grecque, la version syriaque et la Vulgate ont : le bon et le méchant, celui qui est pur… Puisque le mot bon reparaît à la phrase suivante, il est probable qu’il a d’abord été ajouté par erreur ici dans le texte hébreu, et que les versions ont ensuite ajouté et le méchant pour compléter la paire.
- 9.8 Marque des jours de fête chez les Hébreux.
- 9.9 Voir Pr 5.18.
- 9.11 D’autres comprennent : car chacun est tributaire des circonstances et du hasard.
- 9.15 Autre traduction : …qui sauva… Mais personne n’a gardé le souvenir de cet homme pauvre.
Ecclesiastes 9
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 9
New International Version
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.(A) 2 All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad,[a] 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.(B)
3 This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all.(C) The hearts of people, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live,(D) and afterward they join the dead.(E) 4 Anyone who is among the living has hope[b]—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;(F)
they have no further reward,
and even their name(G) is forgotten.(H)
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.(I)
7 Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine(J) with a joyful heart,(K) for God has already approved what you do. 8 Always be clothed in white,(L) and always anoint your head with oil. 9 Enjoy life with your wife,(M) 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(N) in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun. 10 Whatever(O) your hand finds to do, do it with all your might,(P) for in the realm of the dead,(Q) where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.(R)
11 I have seen something else under the sun:
The race is not to the swift
or the battle to the strong,(S)
nor does food come to the wise(T)
or wealth to the brilliant
or favor to the learned;
but time and chance(U) happen to them all.(V)
12 Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come:
As fish are caught in a cruel net,
or birds are taken in a snare,
so people are trapped by evil times(W)
that fall unexpectedly upon them.(X)
Wisdom Better Than Folly
13 I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom(Y) that greatly impressed me: 14 There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it. 15 Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man.(Z) 16 So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.(AA)
17 The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded
than the shouts of a ruler of fools.
18 Wisdom(AB) is better than weapons of war,
but one sinner destroys much good.
Footnotes
- 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
Ecclesiastes 9
King James Version
Ecclesiastes 9
King James Version
9 For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.
2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.
3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
4 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.
7 Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.
8 Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.
9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.
10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
13 This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me:
14 There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:
15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.
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