Ecclesiastes 9

King James Version

Full text for Ecclesiastes Chapter 9

1¶ 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.

2All [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.

3This [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.

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

5For 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.

6Also 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.

7Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.

8Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.

9Live 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.

10Whatsoever 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.

11¶ 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.

12For 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.

13¶ This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it [seemed] great unto me:

14[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:

15Now 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.

16Then said I, Wisdom [is] better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom [is] despised, and his words are not heard.

17The words of wise [men are] heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

18Wisdom [is] better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Ecclesiastes 9 declares that all people, righteous and wicked alike, face the same ultimate fate of death, and no one can discern God's favor or disfavor by earthly events. The living possess hope, while the dead know nothing and are forgotten. Therefore, the Preacher exhorts individuals to enjoy life's simple pleasures, work diligently, and recognize that wisdom, though superior to strength, is often undervalued and can be undone by a single sinner.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins by asserting that the righteous and wise, along with their works, are in God's hand, yet all experience the same events in life and death, regardless of their moral standing or religious observance. This commonality of fate, where even the good and the wicked share the same end, is presented as an evil under the sun, with human hearts full of madness leading to the grave. The Preacher contrasts the living, who have hope and knowledge of their mortality, with the dead, who know nothing, receive no further reward, and whose memory, love, and hatred perish. Consequently, he advises to embrace life's joys—eating, drinking, wearing fine garments, anointing oneself, and living with one's spouse—for God accepts these works. He also urges diligent effort in all tasks, as there is no work or wisdom in the grave. The chapter further observes that success in life is not guaranteed by swiftness, strength, or wisdom, but by "time and chance," as man's fate can befall him suddenly like a snare. Finally, a parable illustrates that wisdom, though capable of saving a city, is often despised and forgotten, and while it is better than strength, one sinner can destroy much good.

Long Summary

Ecclesiastes 9 opens with the Preacher's reflection that all, including the righteous and the wise, are in the hand of God, yet no one can discern divine love or hatred from the events experienced in life. He emphasizes the universal truth that all people, whether righteous or wicked, clean or unclean, those who sacrifice or those who do not, face the same ultimate event: death. This shared destiny is presented as a profound evil under the sun, highlighting the human condition where hearts are often full of evil and madness before descending to the dead. A stark contrast is drawn between the living and the dead: the living, even a lowly dog, possess hope and the knowledge of their impending mortality, making their state superior to a dead lion. The dead, however, are described as knowing nothing, having no further reward, and being utterly forgotten; their love, hatred, and envy perish, and they have no more portion in anything done under the sun. In light of this fleeting existence, the Preacher offers an exhortation to embrace life's simple pleasures: to eat bread with joy, drink wine with a merry heart, keep garments white, and anoint the head, for God now accepts these works. He further advises to live joyfully with one's beloved spouse throughout the days of this vain life, recognizing it as one's portion. Crucially, he urges diligence in all endeavors, stating, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might," because there is no work, device, knowledge, or wisdom in the grave. The Preacher then shifts to observations on the unpredictable nature of life, noting that success in races, battles, or the acquisition of bread, riches, or favor is not solely dependent on speed, strength, wisdom, or skill, but rather on "time and chance." He illustrates this by comparing man's ignorance of his appointed time to fish caught in a net or birds snared, as evil times can suddenly fall upon them. The chapter concludes with an anecdote about a poor wise man who saved a small city from a great king through his wisdom, yet was subsequently forgotten. This leads to the reflection that wisdom is indeed better than strength, but a poor man's wisdom is often despised and his words unheard. Ultimately, the words of the wise are heard more quietly than the shouts of fools, and while wisdom surpasses weapons of war, a single sinner possesses the power to destroy much good.

Core Concepts

  • Universal FateThe chapter asserts that all people, regardless of their righteousness or wickedness, face the same ultimate event of death, and no one can discern God's favor or disfavor based on earthly outcomes.
  • The State of the DeadIt describes the dead as knowing nothing, having no further reward, and being forgotten; their emotions and earthly portion perish forever.
  • Enjoyment of LifeThe Preacher encourages living joyfully, eating, drinking, and embracing companionship, as these are God-given portions in a life of vanity and are accepted by Him.
  • Diligence in WorkThere is an imperative to perform all tasks with one's full might, recognizing that opportunities for work, knowledge, and wisdom cease in the grave.
  • Time and ChanceThe chapter highlights the unpredictable nature of life, where success is not solely determined by skill or effort, but by unforeseen circumstances and the sudden onset of one's appointed time.
  • Value and Neglect of WisdomWisdom is presented as superior to strength and weapons of war, capable of great good, yet it is often despised, unheeded, and its practitioners forgotten, especially if they are poor.
  • The Sinner's Destructive PowerA concluding thought reveals that despite the power of wisdom, a single sinner has the capacity to destroy much good, underscoring the fragility of virtue in the face of wickedness.