Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be (A)my treasured possession among all peoples, for (B)all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a (C)kingdom of priests and (D)a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

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

Wisdom Better Than Folly

11 (E)Again I saw that under the sun (F)the race is not to the swift, nor (G)the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and (H)chance (I)happen to them all. 12 For man (J)does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and (K)like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are (L)snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 9:9 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)
  2. Ecclesiastes 9:10 Or finds to do with your might, do it

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