Ecclesiastes 9

1 omnia haec tractavi in corde meo ut curiose intellegerem sunt iusti atque sapientes et opera eorum in manu Dei et tamen nescit homo utrum amore an odio dignus sit

For all this did I reflect over in my heart and to explain all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their services, are in the hand of God: that man knoweth neither love nor hatred; it is all [ordained] before them;

2 sed omnia in futuro servantur incerta eo quod universa aeque eveniant iusto et impio bono et malo mundo et inmundo immolanti victimas et sacrificia contemnenti sicut bonus sic et peccator ut periurus ita et ille qui verum deierat

Every thing as it is to happen to all; there is but one occurrence for the righteous, and for the wicked; for the good and for the clean, and for the unclean; and for him that sacrificeth, and for him that sacrificeth not; as is the good, so is the sinner; he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

3 hoc est pessimum inter omnia quae sub sole fiunt quia eadem cunctis eveniunt unde et corda filiorum hominum implentur malitia et contemptu in vita sua et post haec ad inferos deducentur (questioned)

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

4 nemo est qui semper vivat et qui huius rei habeat fiduciam melior est canis vivens leone mortuo

For whoever is yet united with all the living hath still hope; for a living dog fareth better than a dead lion.

5 viventes enim sciunt se esse morituros mortui vero nihil noverunt amplius nec habent ultra mercedem quia oblivioni tradita est memoria eorum

For the living know that they will die; but the dead know not the least; nor have they longer any reward; for their memory is forgotten.

6 amor quoque et odium et invidia simul perierunt nec habent partem in hoc saeculo et in opere quod sub sole geritur

Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, are now already lost; and they will have never more a portion in all that is done under the sun.

7 vade ergo et comede in laetitia panem tuum et bibe cum gaudio vinum tuum quia Deo placent opera tua

Go, eat with joy thy bread, and drink with a merry heart thy wine, if God have already received thy works in favor.

8 omni tempore sint vestimenta tua candida et oleum de capite tuo non deficiat

At all times let thy garments be white, and let oil not be wanting on thy head.

9 perfruere vita cum uxore quam diligis cunctis diebus vitae instabilitatis tuae qui dati sunt tibi sub sole omni tempore vanitatis tuae haec est enim pars in vita et in labore tuo quod laboras sub sole

Enjoy life with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which God hath given thee under the sun, [yea, ] all the days of thy vanity; for this is thy portion in this life, and in thy toil with which thou toilest under the sun.

10 quodcumque potest manus tua facere instanter operare quia nec opus nec ratio nec scientia nec sapientia erunt apud inferos quo tu properas (Sheol h7585)

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do with thy might, that do; for there is no work, nor experience, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the nether world, whither thou goest.— (Sheol h7585)

11 verti me alio vidique sub sole nec velocium esse cursum nec fortium bellum nec sapientium panem nec doctorum divitias nec artificum gratiam sed tempus casumque in omnibus

I turned about, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the mighty; and that also the wise have no bread, nor yet the men of understanding riches, nor yet men of knowledge favor; but time and fate will overtake them all.

12 nescit homo finem suum sed sicut pisces capiuntur hamo et sicut aves conprehenduntur laqueo sic capiuntur homines tempore malo cum eis extemplo supervenerit

For man also knoweth not his time, like the fishes that are caught in an evil net, and like the birds that are caught in the snare: like these are the sons of men ensnared at an evil time, when it falleth upon them suddenly.

13 hanc quoque vidi sub sole sapientiam et probavi maximam

Also in this manner have I seen wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great unto me:

14 civitas parva et pauci in ea viri venit contra eam rex magnus et vallavit eam extruxitque munitiones per gyrum et perfecta est obsidio

There was a little city, and the men therein were few; and there came against it a great king, who enclosed it, and built around it great works of siege;

15 inventusque in ea vir pauper et sapiens liberavit urbem per sapientiam suam et nullus deinceps recordatus est hominis illius pauperis

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

16 et dicebam ego meliorem esse sapientiam fortitudine quomodo ergo sapientia pauperis contempta est et verba eius non sunt audita

Then said I, Wisdom is better than might: although the poor man's wisdom is held in contempt, and his words are not heard.

17 verba sapientium audiuntur in silentio plus quam clamor principis inter stultos

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

18 melior est sapientia quam arma bellica et qui in uno peccaverit multa bona perdet

Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner causes much good to be lost.