| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1So I reflected on all this, attempting to clear it all up. I concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their works, are in the hand of God; whether a person will be loved or hated--no one knows what lies ahead. | 1This, too, I carefully explored: Even though the actions of godly and wise people are in God’s hands, no one knows whether God will show them favor. |
| 2Everyone shares the same fate--the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the ceremonially clean and unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not. What happens to the good person, also happens to the sinner; what happens to those who make vows, also happens to those who are afraid to make vows. | 2The same destiny ultimately awaits everyone, whether righteous or wicked, good or bad, ceremonially clean or unclean, religious or irreligious. Good people receive the same treatment as sinners, and people who make promises to God are treated like people who don’t. |
| 3This is the unfortunate fact about everything that happens on earth: the same fate awaits everyone. In addition to this, the hearts of all people are full of evil, and there is folly in their hearts during their lives--then they die. | 3It seems so wrong that everyone under the sun suffers the same fate. Already twisted by evil, people choose their own mad course, for they have no hope. There is nothing ahead but death anyway. |
| 4But whoever is among the living has hope; a live dog is better than a dead lion. | 4There is hope only for the living. As they say, “It’s better to be a live dog than a dead lion!” |
| 5For the living know that they will die, but the dead do not know anything; they have no further reward--and even the memory of them disappears. | 5The living at least know they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, nor are they remembered. |
| 6What they loved, as well as what they hated and envied, perished long ago, and they no longer have a part in anything that happens on earth. | 6Whatever they did in their lifetime—loving, hating, envying—is all long gone. They no longer play a part in anything here on earth. |
| 7Go, eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, because God has already approved your works. | 7So go ahead. Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this! |
| 8Let your clothes always be white, and do not spare precious ointment on your head. | 8Wear fine clothes, with a splash of cologne! |
| 9Enjoy life with your beloved wife during all the days of your fleeting life that God has given you on earth during all your fleeting days; for that is your reward in life and in your burdensome work on earth. | 9Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil. |
| 10Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, because there is neither work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave, the place where you will eventually go. | 10Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom. |
| 11Again, I observed this on the earth: the race is not always won by the swiftest, the battle is not always won by the strongest; prosperity does not always belong to those who are the wisest, wealth does not always belong to those who are the most discerning, nor does success always come to those with the most knowledge--for time and chance may overcome them all. | 11I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time. |
| 12Surely, no one knows his appointed time! Like fish that are caught in a deadly net, and like birds that are caught in a snare--just like them, all people are ensnared at an unfortunate time that falls upon them suddenly. | 12People can never predict when hard times might come. Like fish in a net or birds in a trap, people are caught by sudden tragedy. Thoughts on Wisdom and Folly |
| 13This is what I also observed about wisdom on earth, and it is a great burden to me: | 13Here is another bit of wisdom that has impressed me as I have watched the way our world works. |
| 14There was once a small city with a few men in it, and a mighty king attacked it, besieging it and building strong siege works against it. | 14There was a small town with only a few people, and a great king came with his army and besieged it. |
| 15However, a poor but wise man lived in the city, and he could have delivered the city by his wisdom, but no one listened to that poor man. | 15A poor, wise man knew how to save the town, and so it was rescued. But afterward no one thought to thank him. |
| 16So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, but a poor man's wisdom is despised; no one ever listens to his advice. | 16So even though wisdom is better than strength, those who are wise will be despised if they are poor. What they say will not be appreciated for long. |
| 17The words of the wise are heard in quiet, more than the shouting of a ruler is heard among fools. | 17Better to hear the quiet words of a wise person than the shouts of a foolish king. |
| 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much that is good. | 18Better to have wisdom than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much that is good. |
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