47 lines
2.6 KiB
Markdown
47 lines
2.6 KiB
Markdown
# Chapter 9
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1 For I considered all this in my heart, so that I could declare it all: that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God. People know neither love nor hatred by anything they see before them.
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2 All things come alike to all:
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One event happens to the righteous and the wicked;
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To the good, the clean, and the unclean;
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To him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice.
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As is the good, so is the sinner;
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He who takes an oath as he who fears an oath.
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3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
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4 But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
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5 For the living know that they will die;
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But the dead know nothing,
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And they have no more reward,
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For the memory of them is forgotten.
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6 Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished;
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Nevermore will they have a share
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In anything done under the sun.
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7 Go, eat your bread with joy,
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And drink your wine with a merry heart;
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For God has already accepted your works.
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8 Let your garments always be white,
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And let your head lack no oil.
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9 Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun.
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10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.
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11 I returned and saw under the sun that—
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The race is not to the swift,
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Nor the battle to the strong,
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Nor bread to the wise,
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Nor riches to men of understanding,
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Nor favor to men of skill;
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But time and chance happen to them all.
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12 For man also does not know his time:
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Like fish taken in a cruel net,
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Like birds caught in a snare,
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So the sons of men are snared in an evil time,
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When it falls suddenly upon them.
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13 This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed great to me:
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14 There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it.
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15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man.
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16 Then I said:
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“Wisdom is better than strength.
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Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised,
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And his words are not heard.
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17 Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard
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Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools.
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18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war;
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But one sinner destroys much good.” |