Ecclesiastes 9:4-10
New American Standard Bible
4 For whoever is joined to all the living, there is hope; for better a live dog, than a dead lion. 5 For the living know that they will die; but the dead (A)do not know anything, nor do they have a reward any longer, for their (B)memory is forgotten. 6 Indeed their love, their hate, and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a (C)share in all that is done under the sun.
7 Go then, (D)eat your bread in happiness, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works. 8 See that your (E)clothes are white all the time, and that there is no lack of (F)oil on your head. 9 [a]Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your (G)futile life which He has given you under the sun, [b]all the days of your futility; for this is your (H)reward in life and in your work which you have labored under the sun.
Whatever Your Hand Finds to Do
10 Whatever your hand finds to do, (I)do it with all your might; for there is no (J)activity, planning, knowledge, or wisdom in (K)Sheol where you are going.
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- Ecclesiastes 9:9 Lit See
- Ecclesiastes 9:9 all...your futility not found in some ancient versions
Ecclesiastes 9:4-10
English Standard Version
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 (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.
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- 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
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
