Ecclesiastes 9

For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.

After deep reflection, I've come to understand that the lives and deeds of the good and wise are guided by God. Yet, no one can predict love or hatred based on what they see before them.

All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

Everyone experiences life's events equally, whether they are righteous or wicked, pure or impure, whether they make sacrifices or not. Just as a good person, so is a sinner; and one who makes promises is the same as one who fears to make them.

This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

It's a sad reality in our world, everything under the sun shares a common fate. People's hearts are filled with wickedness and insanity while they're alive, and then they face death.

For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

As long as you're among the living, there's always hope. After all, even a humble living dog is more valuable than a majestic lion that's no longer alive.

For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

Those alive are aware of their impending death, but the departed are oblivious, with no rewards left to gain. Their memories fade into oblivion.

Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

Their love, hatred, and jealousy have all faded away; they no longer have a part in anything that happens in this world.

Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.

Enjoy your meal with happiness and sip your wine cheerfully, for God has already accepted what you do.

Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.

Always wear bright white clothes, and never let your head go without fragrant oil.

Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.

Cherish and enjoy every moment with the wife you love, throughout your fleeting life. This is the gift you've been given in this world, and it's the reward for all your hard work.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

Give your all to every task you undertake, for once you're gone, there's no opportunity to work, create, learn, or gain wisdom.

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

I've realized, in this unpredictable world, that speed doesn't guarantee winning, strength doesn't ensure victory, wisdom doesn't always earn sustenance, intelligence doesn't always bring wealth, and talent doesn't always win favor. Life is a game of time and chance for everyone.

For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.

Just as fish and birds unknowingly get trapped, so too, people are often caught off guard by unexpected hardships.

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

I've witnessed this profound wisdom here on earth, and it deeply moved me.

There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:

A small town, with only a handful of people, found itself under the attack of a mighty king. He surrounded it, constructing massive fortifications, trapping them inside.

Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.

In the city, there lived a humble yet wise man. His wisdom saved the city, but sadly, no one remembered this unsung hero.

Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

I declared, "Knowledge surpasses power. Yet, sadly, the wisdom of the less fortunate is often ignored and their voices unheard."

The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

The quiet wisdom of the wise resonates more deeply than the loud foolishness of a ruler.

Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

Wisdom surpasses the power of warfare, yet a single wrongdoer can shatter abundant goodness.