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Ecclesiastes

Chapter 9

1 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.
כִּ֣י

So
אֶת־
’eṯ-
-
נָתַ֤תִּי
nā·ṯat·tî
I took
כָּל־
kāl-
all
זֶ֞ה
zeh
this
אֶל־
’el-
to
לִבִּי֙
lib·bî
heart
וְלָב֣וּר
wə·lā·ḇūr
and concluded
אֶת־
’eṯ-
-
כָּל־
kāl-
-
זֶ֔ה
zeh
. . .
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
’ă·šer
that
הַצַּדִּיקִ֧ים
haṣ·ṣad·dî·qîm
the righteous
וְהַחֲכָמִ֛ים
wə·ha·ḥă·ḵā·mîm
and the wise ,
וַעֲבָדֵיהֶ֖ם
wa·‘ă·ḇā·ḏê·hem
as well as their deeds ,
הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים
hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm
are in God’s
בְּיַ֣ד
bə·yaḏ
hands .
הָֽאָדָ֔ם
hā·’ā·ḏām
Man
אֵ֤ין
’ên
does not
יוֹדֵ֙עַ֙
yō·w·ḏê·a‘
know
הַכֹּ֖ל
hak·kōl
what
לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃
lip̄·nê·hem
lies ahead ,
גַּֽם־
gam-
whether
אַהֲבָ֣ה
’a·hă·ḇāh
love
גַם־
ḡam-
or
שִׂנְאָ֗ה
śin·’āh
hate .
2 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.
הַכֹּ֞ל
hak·kōl
vvv
כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר
ka·’ă·šer
It is the same
לַכֹּ֗ל
lak·kōl
for all :
אֶחָ֜ד
’e·ḥāḏ
There is a common
מִקְרֶ֨ה
miq·reh
fate
לַצַּדִּ֤יק
laṣ·ṣad·dîq
for the righteous
וְלָרָשָׁע֙
wə·lā·rā·šā‘
and the wicked ,
לַטּוֹב֙
laṭ·ṭō·wḇ
for the good [and the bad] ,
וְלַטָּה֣וֹר
wə·laṭ·ṭā·hō·wr
for the clean
וְלַטָּמֵ֔א
wə·laṭ·ṭā·mê
and the unclean ,
וְלַזֹּבֵ֔חַ
wə·laz·zō·ḇê·aḥ
for the one who sacrifices
וְלַאֲשֶׁ֖ר
wə·la·’ă·šer
and the one
אֵינֶ֣נּוּ
’ê·nen·nū
who does not
זֹבֵ֑חַ
zō·ḇê·aḥ
- .
כַּטּוֹב֙
kaṭ·ṭō·wḇ
As it is for the good ,
כַּֽחֹטֶ֔א
ka·ḥō·ṭe
so it is for the sinner ;
הַנִּשְׁבָּ֕ע
han·niš·bā‘
as it is for the one who makes a vow ,
כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר
ka·’ă·šer
so [it is]
יָרֵֽא׃
yā·rê
for the one who refuses
שְׁבוּעָ֥ה
šə·ḇū·‘āh
to take a vow .
3 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.
זֶ֣ה׀
zeh
This
רָ֗ע
rā‘
is an evil
בְּכֹ֤ל
bə·ḵōl
in everything
אֲשֶֽׁר־
’ă·šer-
that
נַעֲשָׂה֙
na·‘ă·śāh
is done
תַּ֣חַת
ta·ḥaṯ
under
הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ
haš·še·meš
the sun :
כִּֽי־
kî-
. . .
אֶחָ֖ד
’e·ḥāḏ
There is one
מִקְרֶ֥ה
miq·reh
fate
לַכֹּ֑ל
lak·kōl
for everyone .
וְגַ֣ם
wə·ḡam
Furthermore ,
לֵ֣ב
lêḇ
the hearts
בְּֽנֵי־
bə·nê-
of men
הָ֠אָדָם
hā·’ā·ḏām
. . .
מָלֵא־
mā·lê-
are full of
רָ֨ע
rā‘
evil
וְהוֹלֵל֤וֹת
wə·hō·w·lê·lō·wṯ
and madness
בִּלְבָבָם֙
bil·ḇā·ḇām
-
בְּחַיֵּיהֶ֔ם
bə·ḥay·yê·hem
while they are alive ,
וְאַחֲרָ֖יו
wə·’a·ḥă·rāw
and afterward
אֶל־
’el-
they [join]
הַמֵּתִֽים׃
ham·mê·ṯîm
the dead .
4 There is hope, however, for anyone who is among the living; for even a live dog is better than a dead lion.
יֵ֣שׁ
yêš
There is
בִּטָּח֑וֹן
biṭ·ṭā·ḥō·wn
hope ,
כִּי־
kî-
however ,
מִי֙

for anyone who
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
’ă·šer
-
יִבָּחֵר
yib·bå̄·ḥēr
is among
אֶ֥ל
’el
. . .
כָּל־
kāl-
vvv
הַחַיִּ֖ים
ha·ḥay·yîm
the living ;
כִּֽי־
kî-
for even
חַי֙
ḥay
a live
ה֣וּא

. . .
לְכֶ֤לֶב
lə·ḵe·leḇ
dog
ט֔וֹב
ṭō·wḇ
is better
מִן־
min-
than
הַמֵּֽת׃
ham·mêṯ
a dead
הָאַרְיֵ֖ה
hā·’ar·yêh
lion .
5 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.
כִּ֧י

For
הַֽחַיִּ֛ים
ha·ḥay·yîm
the living
יוֹדְעִ֖ים
yō·wḏ·‘îm
know
שֶׁיָּמֻ֑תוּ
še·yā·mu·ṯū
that they will die ,
וְהַמֵּתִ֞ים
wə·ham·mê·ṯîm
but the dead
יוֹדְעִ֣ים
yō·wḏ·‘îm
know
אֵינָ֧ם
’ê·nām
vvv
מְא֗וּמָה
mə·’ū·māh
nothing .
וְאֵֽין־
wə·’ên-
They have no
ע֤וֹד
‘ō·wḏ
further
לָהֶם֙
lā·hem
שָׂכָ֔ר
śā·ḵār
reward ,
כִּ֥י

because
זִכְרָֽם׃
ziḵ·rām
the memory
נִשְׁכַּ֖ח
niš·kaḥ
of them is forgotten .
6 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.
אַהֲבָתָ֧ם
’a·hă·ḇā·ṯām
Their love ,
גַּם־
gam-
. . .
שִׂנְאָתָ֛ם
śin·’ā·ṯām
their hate ,
גַּם־
gam-
. . .
גַּ֣ם
gam
and
קִנְאָתָ֖ם
qin·’ā·ṯām
their envy
כְּבָ֣ר
kə·ḇār
have already
אָבָ֑דָה
’ā·ḇā·ḏāh
vanished ,
אֵין־
’ên-
and they will never again have
לָהֶ֥ם
lā·hem
. . .
עוֹד֙
‘ō·wḏ
. . .
לְעוֹלָ֔ם
lə·‘ō·w·lām
. . .
וְחֵ֨לֶק
wə·ḥê·leq
a share
בְּכֹ֥ל
bə·ḵōl
in all
אֲשֶֽׁר־
’ă·šer-
that
נַעֲשָׂ֖ה
na·‘ă·śāh
is done
תַּ֥חַת
ta·ḥaṯ
under
הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃
haš·šā·meš
the sun .
7 Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already approved your works:
לֵ֣ךְ
lêḵ
Go ,
אֱכֹ֤ל
’ĕ·ḵōl
eat
לַחְמֶ֔ךָ
laḥ·me·ḵā
your bread
בְּשִׂמְחָה֙
bə·śim·ḥāh
with joy ,
וּֽשֲׁתֵ֥ה
ū·šă·ṯêh
and drink
יֵינֶ֑ךָ
yê·ne·ḵā
your wine
ט֖וֹב
ṭō·wḇ
with a cheerful
בְלֶב־
ḇə·leḇ-
heart ,
כִּ֣י

for
הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים
hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm
God
אֶֽת־
’eṯ-
-
כְבָ֔ר
ḵə·ḇār
has already
רָצָ֥ה
rā·ṣāh
approved
מַעֲשֶֽׂיךָ׃
ma·‘ă·śe·ḵā
your works :
8 Let your garments always be white, and never spare the oil for your head.
בְגָדֶ֖יךָ
ḇə·ḡā·ḏe·ḵā
Let your garments
בְּכָל־
bə·ḵāl
always
עֵ֕ת
‘êṯ
. . .
יִהְי֥וּ
yih·yū
be
לְבָנִ֑ים
lə·ḇā·nîm
white ,
אַל־
’al-
and never
יֶחְסָֽר׃
yeḥ·sār
spare
וְשֶׁ֖מֶן
wə·še·men
the oil
עַל־
‘al-
for
רֹאשְׁךָ֥
rō·šə·ḵā
your head .
9 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.
רְאֵ֨ה
rə·’êh
Enjoy
חַיִּ֜ים
ḥay·yîm
life
עִם־
‘im-
with
אָהַ֗בְתָּ
’ā·haḇ·tā
your beloved
אִשָּׁ֣ה
’iš·šāh
wife
אֲשֶׁר־
’ă·šer-
כָּל־
kāl-
all
יְמֵי֙
yə·mê
the days
הֶבְלֶ֔ךָ
heḇ·le·ḵā
of the fleeting
חַיֵּ֣י
ḥay·yê
life
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
’ă·šer
that
נָֽתַן־
nā·ṯan-
[God] has given
לְךָ֙
lə·ḵā
you
תַּ֣חַת
ta·ḥaṯ
under
הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ
haš·še·meš
the sun —
כֹּ֖ל
kōl
all
הֶבְלֶ֑ךָ
heḇ·le·ḵā
your fleeting
יְמֵ֣י
yə·mê
days .
כִּ֣י

For
ה֤וּא

this
חֶלְקְךָ֙
ḥel·qə·ḵā
is your portion
בַּֽחַיִּ֔ים
ba·ḥay·yîm
in life
וּבַעֲמָ֣לְךָ֔
ū·ḇa·‘ă·mā·lə·ḵā
and in your labor
אֲשֶׁר־
’ă·šer-
-
אַתָּ֥ה
’at·tāh
-
עָמֵ֖ל
‘ā·mêl
. . .
תַּ֥חַת
ta·ḥaṯ
under
הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃
haš·šā·meš
the sun .
10 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.
כֹּ֠ל
kōl
Whatever
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
’ă·šer
-
תִּמְצָ֧א
tim·ṣā
you find
לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת
la·‘ă·śō·wṯ
to do
יָֽדְךָ֛
yā·ḏə·ḵā
with your hands ,
עֲשֵׂ֑ה
‘ă·śêh
do [it]
בְּכֹחֲךָ֖
bə·ḵō·ḥă·ḵā
with all your might ,
כִּי֩

for
בִּשְׁא֕וֹל
biš·’ō·wl
in Sheol ,
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
’ă·šer
where
אַתָּ֖ה
’at·tāh
you
הֹלֵ֥ךְ
hō·lêḵ
are going ,
שָֽׁמָּה׃ס
šām·māh
there is
אֵ֨ין
’ên
no
מַעֲשֶׂ֤ה
ma·‘ă·śeh
work
וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן֙
wə·ḥeš·bō·wn
or planning
וְדַ֣עַת
wə·ḏa·‘aṯ
or knowledge
וְחָכְמָ֔ה
wə·ḥā·ḵə·māh
or wisdom .
11 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.
וְרָאֹ֣ה
wə·rā·’ōh
I saw
שַׁ֜בְתִּי
šaḇ·tî
something else
תַֽחַת־
ṯa·ḥaṯ-
under
הַשֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ
haš·še·meš
the sun
כִּ֣י

- :
הַמֵּר֜וֹץ
ham·mê·rō·wṣ
The race
וְלֹ֧א
wə·lō
. . .
לֹא֩

is not
לַקַּלִּ֨ים
laq·qal·lîm
to the swift ,
הַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה
ham·mil·ḥā·māh
nor the battle
לַגִּבּוֹרִ֣ים
lag·gib·bō·w·rîm
to the strong ;
וְ֠גַם
wə·ḡam
-
לֹ֣א

neither [is]
לֶ֙חֶם֙
le·ḥem
the bread
לַחֲכָמִ֥ים
la·ḥă·ḵā·mîm
to the wise ,
וְגַ֨ם
wə·ḡam
nor
לֹ֤א

. . .
עֹ֔שֶׁר
‘ō·šer
the wealth
לַנְּבֹנִים֙
lan·nə·ḇō·nîm
to the intelligent ,
וְגַ֛ם
wə·ḡam
nor
לֹ֥א

. . .
חֵ֑ן
ḥên
the favor
לַיֹּדְעִ֖ים
lay·yō·ḏə·‘îm
to the skillful .
כִּי־
kî-
For
עֵ֥ת
‘êṯ
time
וָפֶ֖גַע
wā·p̄e·ḡa‘
and chance
יִקְרֶ֥ה
yiq·reh
happen
אֶת־
’eṯ-
-
כֻּלָּֽם׃
kul·lām
to all .
12 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.
כִּ֡י

For
גַּם֩
gam
surely
לֹֽא־
lō-
no
הָאָדָ֜ם
hā·’ā·ḏām
man
אֶת־
’eṯ-
-
יֵדַ֨ע
yê·ḏa‘
knows
עִתּ֗וֹ
‘it·tōw
his time :
כַּדָּגִים֙
kad·dā·ḡîm
Like fish
שֶׁנֶּֽאֱחָזִים֙
šen·ne·’ĕ·ḥā·zîm
caught
רָעָ֔ה
rā·‘āh
in a cruel
בִּמְצוֹדָ֣ה
bim·ṣō·w·ḏāh
net
וְכַ֨צִּפֳּרִ֔ים
wə·ḵaṣ·ṣip·po·rîm
or birds
הָאֲחֻז֖וֹת
hā·’ă·ḥu·zō·wṯ
trapped
בַּפָּ֑ח
bap·pāḥ
in a snare ,
כָּהֵ֗ם
kā·hêm
. . .
בְּנֵ֣י
bə·nê
so men
הָֽאָדָ֔ם
hā·’ā·ḏām
. . .
יֽוּקָשִׁים֙
yū·qā·šîm
are ensnared
רָעָ֔ה
rā·‘āh
in an evil
לְעֵ֣ת
lə·‘êṯ
time
פִּתְאֹֽם׃
piṯ·’ōm
that suddenly
כְּשֶׁתִּפּ֥וֹל
kə·šet·tip·pō·wl
falls
עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם
‘ă·lê·hem
upon them .
13 I have also seen this wisdom under the sun, and it was great to me:
רָאִ֥יתִי
rā·’î·ṯî
I have also seen
גַּם־
gam-
. . .
זֹ֛ה
zōh
this
חָכְמָ֖ה
ḥāḵ·māh
wisdom
תַּ֣חַת
ta·ḥaṯ
under
הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ
haš·šā·meš
the sun ,
הִ֖יא

and it
וּגְדוֹלָ֥ה
ū·ḡə·ḏō·w·lāh
[was] great
אֵלָֽי׃
’ê·lāy
to me :
14 There was a small city with few men. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege ramps against it.
קְטַנָּ֔ה
qə·ṭan·nāh
There was a small
עִ֣יר
‘îr
city
מְעָ֑ט
mə·‘āṭ
with few
וַאֲנָשִׁ֥ים
wa·’ă·nā·šîm
men .
גָּדוֹל֙
gā·ḏō·wl
A mighty
מֶ֤לֶךְ
me·leḵ
king
וּבָֽא־
ū·ḇā-
came
אֵלֶ֜יהָ
’ê·le·hā
against it ,
וְסָבַ֣ב
wə·sā·ḇaḇ
surrounded it ,
אֹתָ֔הּ
’ō·ṯāh
-
וּבָנָ֥ה
ū·ḇā·nāh
and built
גְּדֹלִֽים׃
gə·ḏō·lîm
large
מְצוֹדִ֥ים
mə·ṣō·w·ḏîm
siege ramps
עָלֶ֖יהָ
‘ā·le·hā
against it .
15 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.
מִסְכֵּן֙
mis·kên
Now a poor
חָכָ֔ם
ḥā·ḵām
wise
אִ֤ישׁ
’îš
man
וּמָ֣צָא
ū·mā·ṣā
was found
בָ֗הּ
ḇāh
in [the city] ,
ה֥וּא

and he
אֶת־
’eṯ-
-
וּמִלַּט־
ū·mil·laṭ-
saved
הָעִ֖יר
hā·‘îr
the city
בְּחָכְמָת֑וֹ
bə·ḥā·ḵə·mā·ṯōw
by his wisdom .
לֹ֣א

Yet no
וְאָדָם֙
wə·’ā·ḏām
one
זָכַ֔ר
zā·ḵar
remembered
אֶת־
’eṯ-
-
הַהּֽוּא׃
ha·hū
that
הַמִּסְכֵּ֖ן
ham·mis·kên
poor
הָאִ֥ישׁ
hā·’îš
man .
16 And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”
אָ֔נִי
’ā·nî
And I
וְאָמַ֣רְתִּי
wə·’ā·mar·tî
said ,
חָכְמָ֖ה
ḥāḵ·māh
“ Wisdom
טוֹבָ֥ה
ṭō·w·ḇāh
is better
מִגְּבוּרָ֑ה
mig·gə·ḇū·rāh
than strength ,
וְחָכְמַ֤ת
wə·ḥā·ḵə·maṯ
but the wisdom
הַמִּסְכֵּן֙
ham·mis·kên
of the poor
בְּזוּיָ֔ה
bə·zū·yāh
man is despised ,
וּדְבָרָ֖יו
ū·ḏə·ḇā·rāw
and his words
אֵינָ֥ם
’ê·nām
are not
נִשְׁמָעִֽים׃
niš·mā·‘îm
heeded . ”
17 The calm words of the wise are heeded over the shouts of a ruler among fools.
בְּנַ֖חַת
bə·na·ḥaṯ
The calm
דִּבְרֵ֣י
diḇ·rê
words
חֲכָמִ֔ים
ḥă·ḵā·mîm
of the wise
נִשְׁמָעִ֑ים
niš·mā·‘îm
are heeded
מִזַּעֲקַ֥ת
miz·za·‘ă·qaṯ
over the shouts
מוֹשֵׁ֖ל
mō·wō·šêl
of a ruler
בַּכְּסִילִֽים׃
bak·kə·sî·lîm
among fools .
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
חָכְמָ֖ה
ḥāḵ·māh
Wisdom
טוֹבָ֥ה
ṭō·w·ḇāh
is better
מִכְּלֵ֣י
mik·kə·lê
than weapons
קְרָ֑ב
qə·rāḇ
of war ,
אֶחָ֔ד
’e·ḥāḏ
but one
וְחוֹטֶ֣א
wə·ḥō·w·ṭe
sinner
יְאַבֵּ֥ד
yə·’ab·bêḏ
destroys
הַרְבֵּֽה׃
har·bêh
much
טוֹבָ֥ה
ṭō·w·ḇāh
good .