Ecclesiastes 9:1

AMP: For I have taken all this to heart, exploring and examining it all, how the righteous (those in right standing with God) and the wise and their deeds are in the hands of God. No man knows whether it will be love or hatred; anything awaits him.

ASV: For all this I laid to my heart, even to explore all this: that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God; whether it be love or hatred, man knoweth it not; all is before them.

BSB: So 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.

DARBY: For all this I laid to my heart and [indeed] to investigate all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God; man knoweth neither love nor hatred: all is before them.

DRA: All these things have I considered in my heart, that I might carefully understand them: there are just men and wise men, and their works are in the hand of God: and yet man knoweth not whether he be worthy of love, or hatred:

KJV: 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.

Ecclesiastes 9:2

AMP: It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked; for the good, for the clean and for the unclean; for the man who offers sacrifices and for the one who does not sacrifice. As the good man is, so is the sinner; as he who swears an oath is, so is he who is afraid to swear an oath.

ASV: 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.

BSB: It 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.

DARBY: All things [come] alike to all: 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; he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

DRA: But all things are kept uncertain for the time to come, because all things equally happen to the just and to the wicked, to the good and to the evil, to the clean and to the unclean, to him that offereth victims, and to him that despiseth sacrifices. As the good is, so also is the sinner: as the perjured, so he also that sweareth truth.

KJV: 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.

Ecclesiastes 9:3

AMP: This evil is in all that is done under the sun, that one fate comes to all. Also, the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and afterwards they go to the dead.

ASV: This is an evil in all that is 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.

BSB: This 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.

DARBY: This is an evil among all that is done under the sun, that one thing befalleth all: yea, also the heart of the children of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live; and after that, [they have to go] to the dead.

DRA: This is a very great evil among all things that are done under the sun, that the same things happen to all men: whereby also the hearts of the children of men are filled with evil, and with contempt while they live, and afterwards they shall be brought down to hell.

KJV: 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.

Ecclesiastes 9:4

AMP: [There is no exemption,] but whoever is joined with all the living, has hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion.

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

BSB: There is hope, however, for anyone who is among the living; for even a live dog is better than a dead lion.

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

DRA: There is no man that liveth always, or that hopeth for this: a living dog is better than a dead lion.

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

Ecclesiastes 9:5

AMP: For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they no longer have a reward [here], for the memory of them is forgotten.

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

BSB: For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, because the memory of them is forgotten.

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

DRA: For the living know that they shall die, but the dead know nothing more, neither have they a reward any more: for the memory of them is forgotten.

KJV: 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.

Ecclesiastes 9:6

AMP: Indeed their love, their hatred and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a share [in this age] in anything that is done under the sun.

ASV: As well their love, as their hatred and their envy, is perished long ago; neither have they any more a portion for ever in anything that is done under the sun.

BSB: Their 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.

DARBY: Their love also, and their hatred, and their envy is already perished; neither have they any more for ever a portion in all that is done under the sun.

DRA: Their love also, and their hatred, and their envy are all perished, neither have they any part in this world, and in the work that is done under the sun.

KJV: 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.

Ecclesiastes 9:7

AMP: Go your way, eat your bread with joy and drink your wine with a cheerful heart [if you are righteous, wise, and in the hands of God]; for God has already approved and accepted your works.

ASV: Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God hath already accepted thy works.

BSB: Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already approved your works:

DARBY: Go, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God hath already accepted thy works.

DRA: Go then, and eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with gladness: because thy works please God.

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

Ecclesiastes 9:8

AMP: Let your clothes always be white [with purity], and do not let the oil [of gladness] be lacking on your head.

ASV: Let thy garments be always white; and let not thy head lack oil.

BSB: Let your garments always be white,and never spare the oil for your head.

DARBY: Let thy garments be always white, and let not thy head lack oil.

DRA: At all times let thy garments be white, and let not oil depart from thy head.

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

Ecclesiastes 9:9

AMP: Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given you under the sun—all the days of vanity and futility. For this is your reward in life and in your work in which you have labored under the sun.

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

BSB: Enjoy 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.

DARBY: Enjoy life 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 life, and in thy labour wherein thou art labouring under the sun.

DRA: Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest, all the days of thy unsteady life, which are given to thee under the sun, all the time of thy vanity: for this is thy portion in life, and in thy labour wherewith thou labourest under the sun.

KJV: 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.

Ecclesiastes 9:10

AMP: Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) where you are going.

ASV: Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do [it] with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, whither thou goest.

BSB: Whatever 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.

DARBY: Whatever thy hand findeth to do, do with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, whither thou goest.

DRA: Whatsoever thy hand is able to do, do it earnestly: for neither work, nor reason, nor wisdom, nor knowledge shall be in hell, whither thou art hastening.

KJV: 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.

Ecclesiastes 9:11

AMP: I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the strong, and neither is bread to the wise nor riches to those of intelligence and understanding nor favor to men of ability; but time and chance overtake them all. [Ps 33:16-19; Rom 9:16]

ASV: 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 favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

BSB: I 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.

DARBY: 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 the intelligent, nor yet favour to men of knowledge; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

DRA: I turned me to another thing, and I saw that under the sun, the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the learned, nor favour to the skilful: but time and chance in all.

KJV: 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.

Ecclesiastes 9:12

AMP: For man also does not know his time [of death]; like fish caught in a treacherous net, and birds caught in the snare, so the sons of men are ensnared in an evil time when a dark cloud suddenly falls on them.

ASV: 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, even so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.

BSB: For 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.

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

DRA: Man knoweth not his own end: but as fishes are taken with the hook, and as birds are caught with the snare, so men are taken in the evil time, when it shall suddenly come upon them.

KJV: 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.

Ecclesiastes 9:13

AMP: This [illustration of] wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and great it was to me:

ASV: I have also seen wisdom under the sun on this wise, and it seemed great unto me:

BSB: I have also seen this wisdom under the sun, and it was great to me:

DARBY: This also have I seen as wisdom under the sun, and it was great unto me.

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

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

Ecclesiastes 9:14

AMP: There was a little city with few men in it and a great king came against it and besieged it and built great battlements against it.

ASV: 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.

BSB: There was a small city with few men. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege ramps against it.

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

DRA: A little city, and few men in it: there came against it a great king, and invested it, and built bulwarks round about it, and the siege was perfect.

KJV: 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:

Ecclesiastes 9:15

AMP: But there was found in it a poor wise man, and by his wisdom he rescued the city. Yet no man [seriously] remembered that poor man.

ASV: 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.

BSB: Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.

DARBY: and there was found in it a poor wise man, who by his wisdom delivered the city; but no man remembered that poor man.

DRA: Now there was found in it a man poor and wise, and he delivered the city by his wisdom, and no man afterward remembered that poor man.

KJV: 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.

Ecclesiastes 9:16

AMP: But I say that wisdom is better than strength, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heeded.

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

BSB: And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”

DARBY: Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength; but the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

DRA: And I said that wisdom is better than strength: how then is the wisdom of the poor man slighted, and his words not heard?

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

Ecclesiastes 9:17

AMP: The words of wise men heard in quietness are better than the shouting of one who rules among fools.

ASV: The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

BSB: The calm words of the wise are heededover the shouts of a ruler among fools.

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

DRA: The words of the wise are heard in silence, more than the cry of a prince among fools.

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

Ecclesiastes 9:18

AMP: Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

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

BSB: Wisdom is better than weapons of war,but one sinner destroys much good.

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

DRA: Better is wisdom, than weapons of war: and he that shall offend in one, shall lose many good things.

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

Ecclesiastes 9

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