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

The living know that they will die,
    but the dead know nothing;
they have no more reward,
    for the memory of them is forgotten.
What they loved, hated,
    and envied has already perished;
and there is no reward for them from long ago
    in everything that is done under the sun.

Go and eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a pleasant heart; for God is already pleased with your deeds. At all times may your clothing be white, and let not oil ever lack on your head. Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun; because that is your reward in life and in your toil because you have labored under the sun. 10 Whatever your hands find to do, do with your strength; for there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, the place where you are going.

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[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