Ecclesiastes 9
1
But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, c how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are d in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him.
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e It is the same for all, since f the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As the good one is, so is the sinner, and he who g swears is as he who shuns an oath.
3
This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that e the same event happens to all. Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and h madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
4
But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
5
For the living know that they will die, but i the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for j the memory of them is forgotten.
6
Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more share in all that is done under the sun.
7
Go, k eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.
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l Let your garments be always white. Let not m oil be lacking on your head.
9
Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your n vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your o portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun.
10
Whatever your hand finds to do, p do it with your might, q for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.
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r Again I saw that under the sun s the race is not to the swift, nor t the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and u chance v happen to them all.
12
For man w does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and x like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are y snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.
13
I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me.
14
There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it.
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But there was found in it z a poor, wise man, and he by his a wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man.
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But I say that b wisdom is better than might, though c the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.
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The words of the wise heard in d quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.
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e Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but f one sinner destroys much good.
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Cross References
Ecclesiastes 8:14
There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.
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Cross References
Deuteronomy 33:3
Yes, he loved his people, all his holy ones were in his hand; so they followed in your steps, receiving direction from you.
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Cross References
Job 9:22
It is all one; therefore I say, He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.
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Cross References
Ecclesiastes 2:14
The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I perceived that the same event happens to all of them.
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Cross References
Zechariah 5:3
Then he said to me, "This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole land. For everyone who steals shall be cleaned out according to what is on one side, and everyone who swears falsely shall be cleaned out according to what is on the other side.
Malachi 3:5
Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.
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Cross References
Ecclesiastes 9:2
It is the same for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As the good one is, so is the sinner, and he who swears is as he who shuns an oath.
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Cross References
Ecclesiastes 1:17
And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.
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Cross References
Job 14:21
His sons come to honor, and he does not know it; they are brought low, and he perceives it not.
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Cross References
Ecclesiastes 1:11
There is no remembrance of former things, nor w...
Ecclesiastes 8:10
Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go i...
Psalms 31:12
I have been forgotten like one who is dead; I h...
Psalms 88:5
Like one set loose among the dead, like the sla...
Psalms 88:12
Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your...
Isaiah 26:14
They are dead, they will not live; they are sha...
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Cross References
Ecclesiastes 2:24
There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God.
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Cross References
Revelation 3:4
Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
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Cross References
Psalms 23:5
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
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Cross References
Ecclesiastes 6:12
For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?
Ecclesiastes 7:15
In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing.
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Cross References
Ecclesiastes 2:10
And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.
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Cross References
Romans 12:11
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.
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Cross References
Ecclesiastes 9:5
For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.
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Cross References
Ecclesiastes 4:1
Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them.
Ecclesiastes 4:7
Again, I saw vanity under the sun:
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Cross References
Amos 2:14 - 15
Flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not retain his strength, nor shall the mighty save his life.
Romans 9:16
So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
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Cross References
2 Chronicles 20:15
And he said, "Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, 'Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's.
Jeremiah 9:23
Thus says the Lord : "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches.
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Cross References
1 Kings 22:34
But a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate. Therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded.
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Cross References
Ecclesiastes 2:14
The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I perceived that the same event happens to all of them.
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Cross References
Ecclesiastes 8:7
For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be?
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Cross References
Proverbs 7:23
Till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life.
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Cross References
Proverbs 29:6
An evil man is ensnared in his transgression, but a righteous man sings and rejoices.
Ezekiel 12:13
And I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare. And I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, yet he shall not see it, and he shall die there.
Hosea 7:12
As they go, I will spread over them my net; I will bring them down like birds of the heavens; I will discipline them according to the report made to their congregation.
Luke 21:34 - 35
But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.
1 Thessalonians 5:3
While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
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Cross References
Ecclesiastes 4:13
Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice.
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Cross References
Ecclesiastes 9:18
Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
2 Samuel 20:22
Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it out to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and they dispersed from the city, every man to his home. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.
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Cross References
Ecclesiastes 7:19
Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
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Cross References
Mark 6:2 - 3
And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands?
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Cross References
Ecclesiastes 4:6
Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.
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Cross References
Ecclesiastes 9:16
But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.
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Cross References
Joshua 7:1
But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the Lord burned against the people of Israel.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.