| New American Standard Bible 1995 | International Standard Version |
| 1For I have taken all this to my heart and explain it that righteous men, wise men, and their deeds are in the hand of God. Man does not know whether it will be love or hatred; anything awaits him. | 1In 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. |
| 2It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked; for the good, for the clean and for the unclean; for the man who offers a sacrifice and for the one who does not sacrifice. As the good man is, so is the sinner; as the swearer is, so is the one who is afraid to swear. | 2Everyone 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. |
| 3This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for all men. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they go to the dead. | 3There 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. |
| 4For whoever is joined with all the living, there is hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion. | 4"While someone is among the living, hope remains," because "it is better to be a living dog than to be a dead lion." |
| 5For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward, for their memory is forgotten. | 5At 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. |
| 6Indeed their love, their hate and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a share in all that is done under the sun. | 6Furthermore, their love, their hate, and their envy have been long lost. Never again will they have a part in what happens on earth. |
| 7Go then, eat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works. | 7Go ahead and enjoy your meals as you eat. Drink your wine with a joyful attitude, because God already has approved your actions. |
| 8Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking on your head. | 8Always keep your garments white, and don't fail to anoint your head. |
| 9Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun. | 9Find joy in living with your wife whom you love every day of your pointless life that God gave you on earth, because this is your life assignment and your work to do on earth. |
| 10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going. | 10Whatever 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 where you're going. |
| 11I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all. | 11I 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. |
| 12Moreover, man does not know his time: like fish caught in a treacherous net and birds trapped in a snare, so the sons of men are ensnared at an evil time when it suddenly falls on them. | 12In 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. |
| 13Also this I came to see as wisdom under the sun, and it impressed me. | 13I also observed this example of wisdom on earth, and it seemed important to me: |
| 14There was a small city with few men in it and a great king came to it, surrounded it and constructed large siegeworks against it. | 14There was a little city with few men in it. A great king came against it, surrounded it, and built massive siege ramps against it. |
| 15But there was found in it a poor wise man and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man. | 15Now 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. |
| 16So I said, "Wisdom is better than strength." But the wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words are not heeded. | 16So I concluded, "Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless, the wisdom of the poor is rejected—his words are never heard." |
| 17The words of the wise heard in quietness are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. | 17The softly spoken words of the wise are to be heard rather than the shouts of a ruler of fools. |
| 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good. | 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, and a single sinner can destroy a lot of good. |
| New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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