Beginning
God’s Sovereignty
9 In light of all of this, I committed myself to explain it this way: the righteous and the wise, along with everything they do, are in the hands of God. Furthermore, as to love and hate, no human being knows everything concerning them. 2 Everyone shares the same experience: a single event affects the righteous, the wicked, the good, the clean, the unclean, whoever sacrifices, and whoever does not sacrifice.
As it is with the good person,
so also it is with the sinner;
as it is with someone who takes an oath,
so also it is with someone who fears taking an oath.
The Universality of Death
3 There is a tragedy that infects everything that happens on earth: a common event happens to everyone. In fact, the hearts of human beings are full of evil. Madness remains in their hearts while they live, and afterwards they join the dead. 4 “While someone is among the living, hope remains,” because “it is better to be a living dog than to be a dead lion.”[a]
5 At least the living know they will die,
but the dead know nothing;
they no longer have a reward,
since memory about them has been forgotten.
6 Furthermore, their love, their hate, and their envy
have been long lost.
Never again will they have a part
in what happens on earth.
The Fine Art of Enjoying Life
7 Go ahead and enjoy your meals as you eat. Drink your wine with a joyful attitude, because God already has approved your actions. 8 Always keep your garments white, and don’t fail to anoint your head. 9 Find joy in living with your wife whom you love every day of your pointless life that God[b] gave you on earth, because this is your life assignment and your work to do on earth. 10 Whatever the activity in which you engage, do it with all your ability, because there is no work, no planning, no learning, and no wisdom in the next world[c] where you’re going.
11 I considered and observed on earth the following:
The race doesn’t go to the swift,
nor the battle to the strong,
nor food to the wise,
nor wealth to the smart,
nor recognition to the skilled.
Instead, timing and circumstances meet them all.
12 In addition, no human being knows his time:
Like fish captured in a cruel net,
or as birds caught in a snare,
so also are human beings caught by bad timing
that surprises them.
Wisdom Surpasses Foolishness
13 I also observed this example of[d] wisdom on earth, and it seemed important to me: 14 There was a little city with few men in it. A great king came against it, surrounded it, and built massive siege ramps against it. 15 Now there was found within it a poor, but wise man. He delivered the city by his wisdom, but not one person remembered that poor man.
16 So I concluded,[e] “Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless, the wisdom of the poor is rejected—his words are never heard.”
17 The softly spoken words of the wise are to be heard
rather than the shouts of a ruler of fools.
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war,
and a single sinner can destroy a lot of good.
Proverbs about Wisdom and Foolishness
10 As dead flies cause the perfumer’s ointment to stink,
so also does a little foolishness to one’s reputation of wisdom and honor.
2 A wise man’s heart tends toward his right,
but a fool’s heart tends toward his left.
3 Furthermore, the way a fool lives shows he has no sense;
he proclaims to everyone that he’s a fool.
4 If your overseer gets angry at you, don’t resign,
because calmness pacifies great offenses.
5 Here’s another tragedy that I’ve observed on earth,
a kind of error that comes from an overseer:
6 Foolishness is given great honor,
while the prosperous sit in lowly places.[f]
7 And I have observed servants riding[g] on horses,
while princes walk on the ground like servants.
8 Whoever digs a pit may fall into it,
and whoever breaks through a wall
may suffer a snake bite.
9 Someone who quarries stone might be injured;
someone splitting logs can fall into danger.
10 If someone’s ax is blunt—the edge isn’t sharpened—
then more strength will be needed.
Putting wisdom to work will bring success.
11 If a serpent strikes despite being charmed,
there’s no point in being a snake charmer.
12 The words spoken by the wise are gracious,
but the lips of a fool will devour him.
13 He begins his speech with foolishness,
and concludes it with evil madness.
14 The fool overflows with words,
and no one can predict what will happen.
As to what will happen after him,
who can explain it?
15 The work of a fool so wears him out
that he can’t even find his way to town.
16 Woe to the land whose king is a youth
and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 That land is blessed whose king is of noble birth,
whose princes feast at the right time,
for strength, and not to become drunk.
18 Through slothfulness the roof deteriorates,
and a house leaks because of idleness.
19 Festivals are for laughter,
wine makes life pleasant,
and money speaks to everything.
20 Do not curse the king,
even in your thoughts.
Do not curse the rich,
even in your bedroom.
For a bird will fly by and tell what you say,
or something with wings may talk about it.
Preparing for the Future
11 Spread your bread on the water—
after a while you will find it.
2 Apportion what you have into seven, or even eight parts,
because you don’t know what disaster might befall the land.
3 If the clouds are full of rain,
they will pour out on the earth;
if a tree falls toward the south or the north,
wherever it falls, there it will lay.
4 Whoever keeps staring at the wind won’t sow;
whoever daydreams[h] won’t reap.
5 Just as you do not understand the way of the spirit
in the[i] womb of a pregnant mother,
so also you do not know
what God is doing in everything he makes.
6 Sow your seed in the morning,
and don’t stop working[j] until evening,
since you don’t know which of your endeavors will do well,
whether this one or that,
or even if both will do equally well.
Preparing for Old Age
7 How sweet is the daylight, and how pleasant it is for someone’s eyes to behold the sunshine! 8 Even if a person lives many years, let him enjoy them all, recalling that there will be many days of darkness to come—all of which are pointless. 9 So enjoy yourself in your youth, young man, and be encouraged during your younger days. Live as you like, consistent with your world view, but keep in mind that God will bring you to account for everything. 10 Banish sorrow from your heart, and evil from your body, since both childhood and the prime of life[k] are pointless.
Remember Your Creator
12 So remember your Creator during your youth!
Otherwise, troublesome days will come
and years will creep up on you when you’ll say,
“I find no pleasure in them,”
2 Otherwise, when the sun, daylight, moon, or stars turn dark,
or when clouds fail to return after the rain—
3 when that day comes, the palace guards will tremble,
strong men will stoop down,
women grinders will cease because they are few,
and the sight of[l] those who peer through the lattice will grow dim.
4 The doors to the street will be shut
when the sound of grinding decreases,
when one wakes up at the song of a bird,
and all of the singing women are silenced.
5 At that time they will fear climbing[m] heights
and dangers along the road
while the almond tree will blossom,
and the grasshopper is weighed down.
Desire will cease,[n]
because the person goes to his eternal home,
and mourners will gather in the marketplace.
6 When the silver cord is severed,
the golden vessel is broken,
the pitcher is shattered at the fountain,
and the wheel is broken at the cistern,
7 then man’s[o] dust will go back to the earth,
returning to what it was,
and the spirit[p] will return to the God who gave it.
8 “Utterly pointless,” says the Teacher.
“Everything is pointless.”
Conclusions
9 Moreover, besides being wise himself, the Teacher taught people what he had learned by listening, making inquiries, and composing many proverbs. 10 The Teacher searched to find appropriate expressions, and what is written here[q] is right and truthful.
11 Sayings from the wise are like cattle prods and well fastened nails; this[r] masterful collection was given by one shepherd. 12 So learn from them, my son. There is no end to the crafting of many books, and too much study wearies the body.
13 Let the conclusion of all of these thoughts be heard:
Fear God and obey his commandments,
for this is what it means to be human.
14 For God will judge every deed,
along with every secret,
whether good or evil.
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.