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