| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1For I considered all this in my heart, so that I could declare it all: that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God. People know neither love nor hatred by anything they see before them. | 1So I took all this to heart and concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their deeds, are in God’s hands. Man does not know what lies ahead, whether love or hate. |
| 2All things come alike to all: One event happens to the righteous and the wicked; To the good, the clean, and the unclean; To him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; He who takes an oath as he who fears an oath. | 2It is the same for all: There is a common fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner; as it is for the one who makes a vow, so it is for the one who refuses to take a vow. |
| 3This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead. | 3This is an evil in everything that is done under the sun: There is one fate for everyone. Furthermore, the hearts of men are full of evil and madness while they are alive, and afterward they join the dead. |
| 4But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. | 4There is hope, however, for anyone who is among the living; for even a live dog is better than a dead lion. |
| 5For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten. | 5For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, because the memory of them is forgotten. |
| 6Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun. | 6Their love, their hate, and their envy have already vanished, and they will never again have a share in all that is done under the sun. |
| 7Go, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works. | 7Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already approved your works: |
| 8Let your garments always be white, And let your head lack no oil. | 8Let your garments always be white, and never spare the oil for your head. |
| 9Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun. | 9Enjoy life with your beloved wife all the days of the fleeting life that God has given you under the sun—all your fleeting days. For this is your portion in life and in your labor under the sun. |
| 10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. | 10Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom. |
| 11I returned and saw under the sun that— The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all. | 11I saw something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; neither is the bread to the wise, nor the wealth to the intelligent, nor the favor to the skillful. For time and chance happen to all. |
| 12For man also does not know his time: Like fish taken in a cruel net, Like birds caught in a snare, So the sons of men are snared in an evil time, When it falls suddenly upon them. | 12For surely no man knows his time: Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds trapped in a snare, so men are ensnared in an evil time that suddenly falls upon them. |
| 13This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed great to me: | 13I have also seen this wisdom under the sun, and it was great to me: |
| 14There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it. | 14There was a small city with few men. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege ramps against it. |
| 15Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man. | 15Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man. |
| 16Then I said: “Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, And his words are not heard. | 16And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.” |
| 17Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools. | 17The calm words of the wise are heeded over the shouts of a ruler among fools. |
| 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war; But one sinner destroys much good.” | 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good. |
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