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.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 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
Ecclesiastes 9:4-10
Common English Bible
4 Whoever is among the living can be certain about this. A living dog is definitely better off than a dead lion, 5 because the living know that they will die. But the dead know nothing at all. There is no more reward for them; even the memory of them is lost. 6 Their love and their hate, as well as their zeal, are already long gone. They will never again have a stake in all that happens under the sun.
7 Go, eat your food joyfully and drink your wine happily because God has already accepted what you do. 8 Let your garments always be white; don’t run short of oil for your head. 9 Enjoy life with your dearly loved spouse all the days of your pointless life that God[a] gives you under the sun—all the days of your pointless life![b]—because that’s your part to play[c] in this life and in your hard work under the sun. 10 Whatever you are capable of doing, do with all your might because there’s no work, thought, knowledge, or wisdom in the grave,[d] which is where you are headed.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ecclesiastes 9:9 Or he or that are given you
- Ecclesiastes 9:9 This phrase is missing in some LXX sources, Syr, and Tg.
- Ecclesiastes 9:9 Or portion
- Ecclesiastes 9:10 Or underworld; Heb Sheol
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible