Ecclesiastes 9:2

Compare all

1 For I¹ considered all this in my heart, so that I could declare it all: ^athat 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.

2 ^aAll things come alike to all:
One event happens to the¹ 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.

3 This 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.

4 But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

5 For the living know that they will die;
But ^athe dead know nothing,
And they have no more reward,
For ^bthe memory of them is forgotten.

6 Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished;
Nevermore will they have a share
In anything done under the sun.

7 Go, ^aeat your bread with joy,
And drink your wine with a merry heart;
For God has already accepted your works.

8 Let your garments always be white,
And let your head lack no oil.

9 ¹Live 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; ^afor that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun.

10 ^aWhatever your hand finds to do, do it with your ^bmight; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.

11 I returned ^aand 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 ^bchance happen to them all.

12 For ^aman 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 ^bsnared in an evil time,
When it falls suddenly upon them.

Wisdom Superior to Folly

13 This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed great to me:

14 ^aThere was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great¹ snares around it.

<< Ecclesiastes 9:1

Ecclesiastes 9:3 >>

Definitions of words in Ecclesiastes 9:2:

As {International Standard Bible Encyclopedia}

Clean {Easton's Bible Dictionary}
Clean {International Standard Bible Encyclopedia}

Come {International Standard Bible Encyclopedia}

Event {International Standard Bible Encyclopedia}

Good {International Standard Bible Encyclopedia}

He {International Standard Bible Encyclopedia}

Oath {Easton's Bible Dictionary}
Oath {International Standard Bible Encyclopedia}

So {Easton's Bible Dictionary}
So {Hitchcock's Bible Names}
So {International Standard Bible Encyclopedia}

<< Ecclesiastes 9:1

Ecclesiastes 9:3 >>

Join 137,098+ readers

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning

Consistent Bible study is hard to start.

The Berean gives you the starting point: one scripture and a focused commentary in your inbox each morning — read it in minutes, or go as deep as you like.

Free, daily, and spam-free. We never share your address. Unsubscribe anytime.

Wisdom Superior to Folly

A Verse and a Thought,Every Morning

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning