Ecclesiastes 9 NLT ISV Parallel

◄ Ecclesiastes 9 ►

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International Standard Version

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

4There is hope only for the living. As they say, “It’s better to be a live dog 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."

5The living at least know they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, nor are they remembered.

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.

6Whatever they did in their lifetime—loving, hating, envying—is all long gone. They no longer play a part in anything here on earth.

6Furthermore, their love, their hate, and their envy have been long lost. Never again will they have a part in what happens on earth.

7So go ahead. Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this!

7Go ahead and enjoy your meals as you eat. Drink your wine with a joyful attitude, because God already has approved your actions.

8Wear fine clothes, with a splash of cologne!

8Always keep your garments white, and don't fail to anoint your head.

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.

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 you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

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 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.

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.

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

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.

13Here is another bit of wisdom that has impressed me as I have watched the way our world works.

13I also observed this example of wisdom on earth, and it seemed important to me:

14There was a small town with only a few people, and a great king came with his army and besieged 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.

15A poor, wise man knew how to save the town, and so it was rescued. But afterward no one thought to thank him.

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 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.

16So I concluded, "Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless, the wisdom of the poor is rejected—his words are never heard."

17Better to hear the quiet words of a wise person than the shouts of a foolish king.

17The softly spoken words of the wise are to be heard rather than the shouts of a ruler of fools.

18Better to have wisdom than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much that is good.

18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, and a single sinner can destroy a lot of good.

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