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Ecclesiastes 9-12
New American Standard Bible
Ecclesiastes 9-12
New American Standard Bible
People Are in the Hand of God
9 For I have taken all this to my heart, even to [a]examine [b]it all, that righteous people, wise people, and their deeds are (A)in the hand of God. (B)People do not know whether it will be (C)love or hatred; anything [c]awaits them.
2 (D)It is the same for all. There is (E)one fate for the righteous and for the wicked; for the good, for the clean and the unclean; for the person who offers a sacrifice and for the one who does not sacrifice. As the good person is, so is the sinner; the one who swears an oath is just as the one who [d]is afraid to swear an oath. 3 This is an evil in everything that is done under the sun, that there is (F)one fate for everyone. Furthermore, (G)the hearts of the sons of mankind are full of evil, and (H)insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterward they go to the dead. 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 (I)do not know anything, nor do they have a reward any longer, for their (J)memory is forgotten. 6 Indeed their love, their hate, and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a (K)share in all that is done under the sun.
7 Go then, (L)eat your bread in happiness, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works. 8 See that your (M)clothes are white all the time, and that there is no lack of (N)oil on your head. 9 [e]Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your (O)futile life which He has given you under the sun, [f]all the days of your futility; for this is your (P)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, (Q)do it with all your might; for there is no (R)activity, planning, knowledge, or wisdom in (S)Sheol where you are going.
11 I again saw under the sun that the (T)race is not to the swift and the (U)battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor (V)wealth to the discerning, nor favor to the skillful; for time and (W)chance overtake them all. 12 For indeed, a person does not (X)know his time: like fish that are caught in a treacherous net and (Y)birds caught in a snare, so the sons of mankind are (Z)ensnared at an evil time when it (AA)suddenly falls on them.
13 This too I saw as wisdom under the sun, and [g]it impressed me: 14 there (AB)was a small city with few men in it, and a great king came to it, surrounded it, and constructed large siegeworks against it. 15 But there was found in it a (AC)poor wise man, and he [h]saved the city (AD)by his wisdom. Yet (AE)no one remembered that poor man. 16 So I said, “(AF)Wisdom is better than strength.” But the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are [i]ignored. 17 The (AG)words of the wise heard in calm are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. 18 (AH)Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but (AI)one sinner destroys much good.
A Little Foolishness
10 Dead flies turn a (AJ)perfumer’s oil rancid, so a little foolishness is more [j]potent than wisdom and honor. 2 A wise person’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish (AK)person’s heart directs him toward the left. 3 Even when the fool walks along the road, his [k]sense is lacking, and he [l](AL)demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool. 4 If the ruler’s [m]temper rises against you, (AM)do not abandon your place, because (AN)composure puts great offenses to rest.
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like a mistake that proceeds from the ruler: 6 (AO)foolishness is set in many exalted places while the rich sit in humble places. 7 I have seen (AP)slaves riding (AQ)on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.
8 (AR)One who digs a pit may fall into it, and a (AS)serpent may bite one who breaks through a wall. 9 One who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and one who splits logs may be endangered by them. 10 If the [n]axe is dull and he does not sharpen its [o]edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of bringing success. 11 If the serpent bites [p](AT)before being charmed, there is no benefit for the charmer. 12 (AU)Words from the mouth of a wise person are gracious, while the lips of a (AV)fool consume him; 13 the beginning of [q]his talking is foolishness, and the end of [r]it is evil (AW)insanity. 14 Yet the (AX)fool multiplies words. No person knows what will happen, and who can tell him (AY)what will come after him? 15 The labor of [s]a fool makes him so weary that he does not even know how to go to a city. 16 Woe to you, land whose (AZ)king is a boy, and whose princes [t]feast in the morning. 17 Blessed are you, land whose king is of nobility, and whose princes eat at the appropriate time—for strength and not for (BA)drunkenness. 18 Through (BB)extreme laziness the rafters sag, and through idleness the house leaks. 19 People prepare a meal for enjoyment, (BC)wine makes life joyful, and (BD)money [u]is the answer to everything. 20 Furthermore, (BE)in your bedroom do not (BF)curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich person; for a bird of the sky will bring the sound, and the winged one will make your word known.
Cast Your Bread on the Waters
11 (BG)Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you (BH)will find it [v]after many days. 2 (BI)Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what (BJ)misfortune may occur on the earth. 3 If the clouds are full, they pour out rain on the earth; and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it [w]lies. 4 One who watches the wind will not sow and one who looks at the clouds will not harvest. 5 Just as you do not (BK)know the path of the [x]wind, and (BL)how bones are formed in the womb of the [y]pregnant woman, so you do not (BM)know the activity of God who makes everything.
6 Sow your seed (BN)in the morning and do not [z]be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether [aa]one or the other will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.
7 The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to (BO)see the sun. 8 Indeed, if a person lives many years, let him (BP)rejoice in them all; but let him remember the (BQ)days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come will be futility.
9 Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the [ab]impulses of your heart and the [ac](BR)desires of your eyes. Yet know that (BS)God will bring you to judgment for all these things. 10 So remove [ad]sorrow from your heart and keep [ae](BT)pain away from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are [af]fleeting.
Remember God in Your Youth
12 (BU)Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the (BV)evil days come and the years approach when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the (BW)sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain; 3 on the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, and strong men are (BX)bent over, the grinders stop working because they are few, and (BY)those who look through [ag]windows grow [ah]dim; 4 and the doors on the street are shut as the (BZ)sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the (CA)daughters of song will [ai]sing softly. 5 Furthermore, people are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caper berry is ineffective. For man goes to his eternal (CB)home while the (CC)mourners move around in the street. 6 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is [aj]broken and the (CD)golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the spring is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; 7 then the (CE)dust will return to the earth as it was, and the [ak](CF)spirit will return to (CG)God who gave it. 8 “(CH)Futility of futilities,” says the Preacher, “all is futility!”
Purpose of the Preacher
9 In addition to being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out, and arranged (CI)many proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find (CJ)delightful words and to write (CK)words of truth correctly.
11 The (CL)words of the wise are like [al](CM)goads, and masters of these collections are like driven (CN)nails; they are given by one Shepherd. 12 But beyond this, my son, be warned: the [am]writing of (CO)many books is endless, and excessive (CP)study is [an]wearying to the body.
13 The conclusion, when everything has been heard, is: (CQ)fear God and (CR)keep His commandments, because this applies to (CS)every person. 14 For (CT)God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 9:1 Or explain
- Ecclesiastes 9:1 Lit all this
- Ecclesiastes 9:1 Lit is before them
- Ecclesiastes 9:2 Lit fears an oath
- Ecclesiastes 9:9 Lit See
- Ecclesiastes 9:9 all...your futility not found in some ancient versions
- Ecclesiastes 9:13 Lit it was great to me
- Ecclesiastes 9:15 Or might have saved
- Ecclesiastes 9:16 Lit not listened to
- Ecclesiastes 10:1 Lit costly
- Ecclesiastes 10:3 Lit heart
- Ecclesiastes 10:3 Lit says
- Ecclesiastes 10:4 Lit spirit
- Ecclesiastes 10:10 Lit iron
- Ecclesiastes 10:10 Lit faces
- Ecclesiastes 10:11 Lit with no incantation
- Ecclesiastes 10:13 Lit the words of his mouth
- Ecclesiastes 10:13 Lit his mouth
- Ecclesiastes 10:15 Lit fools make
- Ecclesiastes 10:16 Lit eat
- Ecclesiastes 10:19 Lit answers all
- Ecclesiastes 11:1 Lit in, within
- Ecclesiastes 11:3 Lit is
- Ecclesiastes 11:5 Or with many mss spirit into the bones in the womb
- Ecclesiastes 11:5 Lit full
- Ecclesiastes 11:6 Lit let down your hand
- Ecclesiastes 11:6 Lit this or that
- Ecclesiastes 11:9 Lit ways
- Ecclesiastes 11:9 Lit sights
- Ecclesiastes 11:10 Or anger
- Ecclesiastes 11:10 Lit evil
- Ecclesiastes 11:10 Lit futility
- Ecclesiastes 12:3 Or holes
- Ecclesiastes 12:3 I.e., in their eyesight
- Ecclesiastes 12:4 Lit be low
- Ecclesiastes 12:6 As in LXX; Heb removed
- Ecclesiastes 12:7 Or breath
- Ecclesiastes 12:11 I.e., spiked sticks for driving cattle
- Ecclesiastes 12:12 Lit making
- Ecclesiastes 12:12 Lit weariness
Ecclesiastes 9-12
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 9-12
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.
10 As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,
so a little folly(AC) outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right,
but the heart of the fool to the left.
3 Even as fools walk along the road,
they lack sense
and show everyone(AD) how stupid they are.
4 If a ruler’s anger rises against you,
do not leave your post;(AE)
calmness can lay great offenses to rest.(AF)
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun,
the sort of error that arises from a ruler:
6 Fools are put in many high positions,(AG)
while the rich occupy the low ones.
7 I have seen slaves on horseback,
while princes go on foot like slaves.(AH)
8 Whoever digs a pit may fall into it;(AI)
whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.(AJ)
9 Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them;
whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.(AK)
10 If the ax is dull
and its edge unsharpened,
more strength is needed,
but skill will bring success.
11 If a snake bites before it is charmed,
the charmer receives no fee.(AL)
12 Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious,(AM)
but fools are consumed by their own lips.(AN)
13 At the beginning their words are folly;
at the end they are wicked madness—
14 and fools multiply words.(AO)
No one knows what is coming—
who can tell someone else what will happen after them?(AP)
15 The toil of fools wearies them;
they do not know the way to town.
16 Woe to the land whose king was a servant[c](AQ)
and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth
and whose princes eat at a proper time—
for strength and not for drunkenness.(AR)
18 Through laziness, the rafters sag;
because of idle hands, the house leaks.(AS)
19 A feast is made for laughter,
wine(AT) makes life merry,
and money is the answer for everything.
20 Do not revile the king(AU) even in your thoughts,
or curse the rich in your bedroom,
because a bird in the sky may carry your words,
and a bird on the wing may report what you say.
Invest in Many Ventures
11 Ship(AV) your grain across the sea;
after many days you may receive a return.(AW)
2 Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight;
you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.
3 If clouds are full of water,
they pour rain on the earth.
Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where it falls, there it will lie.
4 Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.
5 As you do not know the path of the wind,(AX)
or how the body is formed[d] in a mother’s womb,(AY)
so you cannot understand the work of God,
the Maker of all things.
6 Sow your seed in the morning,
and at evening let your hands not be idle,(AZ)
for you do not know which will succeed,
whether this or that,
or whether both will do equally well.
Remember Your Creator While Young
7 Light is sweet,
and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.(BA)
8 However many years anyone may live,
let them enjoy them all.
But let them remember(BB) the days of darkness,
for there will be many.
Everything to come is meaningless.
9 You who are young, be happy while you are young,
and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
God will bring you into judgment.(BC)
10 So then, banish anxiety(BD) from your heart
and cast off the troubles of your body,
for youth and vigor are meaningless.(BE)
12 Remember(BF) your Creator
in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble(BG) come
and the years approach when you will say,
“I find no pleasure in them”—
2 before the sun and the light
and the moon and the stars grow dark,
and the clouds return after the rain;
3 when the keepers of the house tremble,
and the strong men stoop,
when the grinders cease because they are few,
and those looking through the windows grow dim;
4 when the doors to the street are closed
and the sound of grinding fades;
when people rise up at the sound of birds,
but all their songs grow faint;(BH)
5 when people are afraid of heights
and of dangers in the streets;
when the almond tree blossoms
and the grasshopper drags itself along
and desire no longer is stirred.
Then people go to their eternal home(BI)
and mourners(BJ) go about the streets.
6 Remember him—before the silver cord is severed,
and the golden bowl is broken;
before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
and the wheel broken at the well,
7 and the dust returns(BK) to the ground it came from,
and the spirit returns to God(BL) who gave it.(BM)
The Conclusion of the Matter
9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.(BP) 10 The Teacher(BQ) searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.(BR)
11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails(BS)—given by one shepherd.[f] 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.
Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.(BT)
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 10:16 Or king is a child
- Ecclesiastes 11:5 Or know how life (or the spirit) / enters the body being formed
- Ecclesiastes 12:8 Or the leader of the assembly; also in verses 9 and 10
- Ecclesiastes 12:11 Or Shepherd
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.