Ecclesiastes 9

KJV

1  For^{3588 853} all³⁶⁰⁵ this²⁰⁸⁸ I considered⁵⁴¹⁴ in⁴¹³ my heart³⁸²⁰ even to declare^{952 853} all³⁶⁰⁵ this,²⁰⁸⁸ that⁸³⁴ the righteous,⁶⁶⁶² and the wise,²⁴⁵⁰ and their works,⁵⁶⁵² are in the hand³⁰²⁷ of God:⁴³⁰ no³⁶⁹ man¹²⁰ knoweth³⁰⁴⁵ either¹⁵⁷¹ love¹⁶⁰ or¹⁵⁷¹ hatred⁸¹³⁵ by all³⁶⁰⁵ that is before⁶⁴⁴⁰ them.

2  All³⁶⁰⁵ things come alike⁸³⁴ to all:³⁶⁰⁵ there is one²⁵⁹ event⁴⁷⁴⁵ to the righteous,⁶⁶⁶² and to the wicked;⁷⁵⁶³ to the good²⁸⁹⁶ and to the clean,²⁸⁸⁹ and to the unclean;²⁹³¹ to him that sacrificeth,²⁰⁷⁶ and to him that sacrificeth^{834 2076} not:³⁶⁹ as is the good,²⁸⁹⁶ so is the sinner;²³⁹⁸ and he that sweareth,⁷⁶⁵⁰ as⁸³⁴ he that feareth³³⁷² an oath.⁷⁶²¹

3  This²⁰⁸⁸ is an evil⁷⁴⁵¹ among all³⁶⁰⁵ things that⁸³⁴ are done⁶²¹³ under⁸⁴⁷⁸ the sun,⁸¹²¹ that³⁵⁸⁸ there is one²⁵⁹ event⁴⁷⁴⁵ unto all:³⁶⁰⁵ yea, also¹⁵⁷¹ the heart³⁸²⁰ of the sons¹¹²¹ of men¹²⁰ is full⁴³⁹⁰ of evil,⁷⁴⁵¹ and madness¹⁹⁴⁷ is in their heart³⁸²⁴ while they live,²⁴¹⁶ and after³¹⁰ that they go to⁴¹³ the dead.⁴¹⁹¹

4  For³⁵⁸⁸ to him⁴³¹⁰ that⁸³⁴ is joined²²⁶⁶ to⁴¹³ all³⁶⁰⁵ the living²⁴¹⁶ there is³⁴²⁶ hope:⁹⁸⁶ for³⁵⁸⁸ a living²⁴¹⁶ dog³⁶¹¹ is better²⁸⁹⁶ than⁴⁴⁸⁰ a dead⁴¹⁹¹ lion.⁷³⁸

5  For³⁵⁸⁸ the living²⁴¹⁶ know³⁰⁴⁵ that they shall die:^{7945 4191} but the dead⁴¹⁹¹ know³⁰⁴⁵ not³⁶⁹ any thing,³⁹⁷² neither³⁶⁹ have they any more⁵⁷⁵⁰ a reward;⁷⁹³⁹ for³⁵⁸⁸ the memory²¹⁴³ of them is forgotten.⁷⁹¹¹

6  Also¹⁵⁷¹ their love,¹⁶⁰ and¹⁵⁷¹ their hatred,⁸¹³⁵ and¹⁵⁷¹ their envy,⁷⁰⁶⁸ is now³⁵²⁸ perished;⁶ neither³⁶⁹ have they any more⁵⁷⁵⁰ a portion²⁵⁰⁶ forever⁵⁷⁶⁹ in any³⁶⁰⁵ thing that⁸³⁴ is done⁶²¹³ under⁸⁴⁷⁸ the sun.⁸¹²¹

7  Go¹⁹⁸⁰ thy way, eat³⁹⁸ thy bread³⁸⁹⁹ with joy,⁸⁰⁵⁷ and drink⁸³⁵⁴ thy wine³¹⁹⁶ with a merry²⁸⁹⁶ heart;³⁸²⁰ for³⁵⁸⁸ God⁴³⁰ now³⁵²⁸ accepteth^{7521 853} thy works.⁴⁶³⁹

8  Let thy garments⁸⁹⁹ be¹⁹⁶¹ always^{3605 6256} white;³⁸³⁶ and let thy head⁷²¹⁸ lack²⁶³⁷ no⁴⁰⁸ ointment.⁸⁰⁸¹

9  Live joyfully^{2416 7200} with⁵⁹⁷³ the wife⁸⁰² whom⁸³⁴ thou lovest¹⁵⁷ all³⁶⁰⁵ the days³¹¹⁷ of the life²⁴¹⁶ of thy vanity,¹⁸⁹² which⁸³⁴ he hath given⁵⁴¹⁴ thee under⁸⁴⁷⁸ the sun,⁸¹²¹ all³⁶⁰⁵ the days³¹¹⁷ of thy vanity:¹⁸⁹² for³⁵⁸⁸ that¹⁹³¹ is thy portion²⁵⁰⁶ in this life,²⁴¹⁶ and in thy labor⁵⁹⁹⁹ which⁸³⁴ thou⁸⁵⁹ takest⁶⁰⁰¹ under⁸⁴⁷⁸ the sun.⁸¹²¹

10  Whatsoever^{3605 834} thy hand³⁰²⁷ findeth⁴⁶⁷² to do,⁶²¹³ do⁶²¹³ it with thy might;³⁵⁸¹ for³⁵⁸⁸ there is no³⁶⁹ work,⁴⁶³⁹ nor device,²⁸⁰⁸ nor knowledge,¹⁸⁴⁷ nor wisdom,²⁴⁵¹ in the grave,⁷⁵⁸⁵ whither^{834 8033} thou⁸⁵⁹ goest.¹⁹⁸⁰

11  I returned,⁷⁷²⁵ and saw⁷²⁰⁰ under⁸⁴⁷⁸ the sun,⁸¹²¹ that³⁵⁸⁸ the race⁴⁷⁹³ is not³⁸⁰⁸ to the swift,⁷⁰³¹ nor³⁸⁰⁸ the battle⁴⁴²¹ to the strong,¹³⁶⁸ neither³⁸⁰⁸ yet¹⁵⁷¹ bread³⁸⁹⁹ to the wise,²⁴⁵⁰ nor³⁸⁰⁸ yet¹⁵⁷¹ riches⁶²³⁹ to men of understanding,⁹⁹⁵ nor³⁸⁰⁸ yet¹⁵⁷¹ favor²⁵⁸⁰ to men of skill;³⁰⁴⁵ but³⁵⁸⁸ time⁶²⁵⁶ and chance⁶²⁹⁴ happeneth⁷¹³⁶ to ⁸⁵³ them all.³⁶⁰⁵

12  For³⁵⁸⁸ man¹²⁰ also¹⁵⁷¹ knoweth³⁰⁴⁵ not^{3808 853} his time:⁶²⁵⁶ as the fishes¹⁷⁰⁹ that are taken^{7945 270} in an evil⁷⁴⁵¹ net,⁴⁶⁸⁶ and as the birds⁶⁸³³ that are caught²⁷⁰ in the snare;⁶³⁴¹ so are the sons¹¹²¹ of men¹²⁰ snared³³⁶⁹ in an evil⁷⁴⁵¹ time,⁶²⁵⁶ when it falleth^{7945 5307} suddenly⁶⁵⁹⁷ upon⁵⁹²¹ them.

13  This²⁰⁹⁰ wisdom²⁴⁵¹ have I seen⁷²⁰⁰ also¹⁵⁷¹ under⁸⁴⁷⁸ the sun,⁸¹²¹ and it¹⁹³¹ seemed great¹⁴¹⁹ unto⁴¹³ me:

14  There was a little⁶⁹⁹⁶ city,⁵⁸⁹² and few⁴⁵⁹² men³⁷⁶ within it; and there came⁹³⁵ a great¹⁴¹⁹ king⁴⁴²⁸ against⁴¹³ it, and besieged⁵⁴³⁷ it, and built¹¹²⁹ great¹⁴¹⁹ bulwarks⁴⁶⁸⁵ against⁵⁹²¹ it:

15  Now there was found⁴⁶⁷² in it a poor⁴⁵⁴² wise²⁴⁵⁰ man,³⁷⁶ and he¹⁹³¹ by his wisdom²⁴⁵¹ delivered^{4422 853} the city;⁵⁸⁹² yet no³⁸⁰⁸ man¹²⁰ remembered^{2142 853} that same¹⁹³¹ poor⁴⁵⁴² man.³⁷⁶

16  Then said⁵⁵⁹ I,⁵⁸⁹ Wisdom²⁴⁵¹ is better²⁸⁹⁶ than strength:^{4480 1369} nevertheless the poor man's⁴⁵⁴² wisdom²⁴⁵¹ is despised,⁹⁵⁹ and his words¹⁶⁹⁷ are not³⁶⁹ heard.⁸⁰⁸⁵

17  The words¹⁶⁹⁷ of wise²⁴⁵⁰ men are heard⁸⁰⁸⁵ in quiet⁵¹⁸³ more than the cry^{4480 2201} of him that ruleth⁴⁹¹⁰ among fools.³⁶⁸⁴

18  Wisdom²⁴⁵¹ is better²⁸⁹⁶ than weapons^{4480 3627} of war:⁷¹²⁸ but one²⁵⁹ sinner²³⁹⁸ destroyeth⁶ much⁷²³⁵ good.²⁸⁹⁶

Sep

1 ὅτι σὺν πᾶν τοῦτο ἔδωκα εἰς καρδίαν μου καὶ καρδία μου σὺν πᾶν εἶδεν τοῦτο ὡς οἱ δίκαιοι καὶ οἱ σοφοὶ καὶ ἐργασίαι αὐτῶν ἐν χειρὶ τοῦ θεοῦ καί γε ἀγάπην καί γε μῖσος οὐκ ἔστιν εἰδὼς ὁ ἄνθρωπος τὰ πάντα πρὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν

2 ματαιότης ἐν τοῖς πᾶσιν συνάντημα ἓν τῷ δικαίῳ καὶ τῷ ἀσεβεῖ τῷ ἀγαθῷ καὶ τῷ κακῷ καὶ τῷ καθαρῷ καὶ τῷ ἀκαθάρτῳ καὶ τῷ θυσιάζοντι καὶ τῷ μὴ θυσιάζοντι ὡς ὁ ἀγαθός ὧς ὁ ἁμαρτάνων ὧς ὁ ὀμνύων καθὼς ὁ τὸν ὅρκον φοβούμενος

3 τοῦτο πονηρὸν ἐν παντὶ πεποιημένῳ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον ὅτι συνάντημα ἓν τοῖς πᾶσιν καί γε καρδία υἱῶν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπληρώθη πονηροῦ καὶ περιφέρεια ἐν καρδίᾳ αὐτῶν ἐν ζωῇ αὐτῶν καὶ ὀπίσω αὐτῶν πρὸς τοὺς νεκρούς

4 ὅτι τίς ὃς κοινωνεῖ πρὸς πάντας τοὺς ζῶντας ἔστιν ἐλπίς ὅτι ὁ κύων ὁ ζῶν αὐτὸς ἀγαθὸς ὑπὲρ τὸν λέοντα τὸν νεκρόν

5 ὅτι οἱ ζῶντες γνώσονται ὅτι ἀποθανοῦνται καὶ οἱ νεκροὶ οὔκ εἰσιν γινώσκοντες οὐδέν καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτοῖς ἔτι μισθός ὅτι ἐπελήσθη ἡ μνήμη αὐτῶν

6 καί γε ἀγάπη αὐτῶν καί γε μῖσος αὐτῶν καί γε ζῆλος αὐτῶν ἤδη ἀπώλετο καὶ μερὶς οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτοῖς ἔτι εἰς αἰῶνα ἐν παντὶ τῷ πεποιημένῳ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον

7 δεῦρο φάγε ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ ἄρτον σου καὶ πίε ἐν καρδίᾳ ἀγαθῇ οἶνόν σου ὅτι ἤδη εὐδόκησεν ὁ θεὸς τὰ ποιήματά σου

8 ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ ἔστωσαν ἱμάτιά σου λευκά καὶ ἔλαιον ἐπὶ κεφαλήν σου μὴ ὑστερησάτω

9 ἰδὲ ζωὴν μετὰ γυναικός ἧς ἠγάπησας πάσας ἡμέρας ζωῆς ματαιότητός σου τὰς δοθείσας σοι ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον πάσας ἡμέρας ματαιότητός σου ὅτι αὐτὸ μερίς σου ἐν τῇ ζωῇ σου καὶ ἐν τῷ μόχθῳ σου ᾧ σὺ μοχθεῖς ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον

10 πάντα ὅσα ἂν εὕρῃ ἡ χείρ σου τοῦ ποιῆσαι ὡς ἡ δύναμίς σου ποίησον ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ποίημα καὶ λογισμὸς καὶ γνῶσις καὶ σοφία ἐν ᾅδῃ ὅπου σὺ πορεύῃ ἐκεῖ

11 ἐπέστρεψα καὶ εἶδον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον ὅτι οὐ τοῖς κούφοις ὁ δρόμος καὶ οὐ τοῖς δυνατοῖς ὁ πόλεμος καί γε οὐ τοῖς σοφοῖς ἄρτος καί γε οὐ τοῖς συνετοῖς πλοῦτος καί γε οὐ τοῖς γινώσκουσιν χάρις ὅτι καιρὸς καὶ ἀπάντημα συναντήσεται τοῖς πᾶσιν αὐτοῖς

12 ὅτι καί γε οὐκ ἔγνω ὁ ἄνθρωπος τὸν καιρὸν αὐτοῦ ὡς οἱ ἰχθύες οἱ θηρευόμενοι ἐν ἀμφιβλήστρῳ κακῷ καὶ ὡς ὄρνεα τὰ θηρευόμενα ἐν παγίδι ὡς αὐτὰ παγιδεύονται οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου εἰς καιρὸν πονηρόν ὅταν ἐπιπέσῃ ἐπ᾽ αὐτοὺς ἄφνω

13 καί γε τοῦτο εἶδον σοφίαν ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον καὶ μεγάλη ἐστὶν πρός με

14 πόλις μικρὰ καὶ ἄνδρες ἐν αὐτῇ ὀλίγοι καὶ ἔλθῃ ἐπ᾽ αὐτὴν βασιλεὺς μέγας καὶ κυκλώσῃ αὐτὴν καὶ οἰκοδομήσῃ ἐπ᾽ αὐτὴν χάρακας μεγάλους

15 καὶ εὕρῃ ἐν αὐτῇ ἄνδρα πένητα σοφόν καὶ διασώσει αὐτὸς τὴν πόλιν ἐν τῇ σοφίᾳ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἄνθρωπος οὐκ ἐμνήσθη σὺν τοῦ ἀνδρὸς τοῦ πένητος ἐκείνου

16 καὶ εἶπα ἐγώ ἀγαθὴ σοφία ὑπὲρ δύναμιν καὶ σοφία τοῦ πένητος ἐξουδενωμένη καὶ λόγοι αὐτοῦ οὔκ εἰσιν ἀκουόμενοι

17 λόγοι σοφῶν ἐν ἀναπαύσει ἀκούονται ὑπὲρ κραυγὴν ἐξουσιαζόντων ἐν ἀφροσύναις

18 ἀγαθὴ σοφία ὑπὲρ σκεύη πολέμου καὶ ἁμαρτάνων εἷς ἀπολέσει ἀγαθωσύνην πολλήν

Tan

‎1 ‏כִּ֣י אֶת־כָּל־זֶ֞ה נָתַ֤תִּי אֶל־לִבִּי֙ וְלָב֣וּר אֶת־כָּל־זֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר הַצַּדִּיקִ֧ים וְהַחֲכָמִ֛ים וַעֲבָדֵיהֶ֖ם בְּיַ֣ד הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים גַּֽם־אַהֲבָ֣ה גַם־שִׂנְאָ֗ה אֵ֤ין יוֹדֵ֙עַ֙ הָֽאָדָ֔ם הַכֹּ֖ל לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃

‎2 ‏הַכֹּ֞ל כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר לַכֹּ֗ל מִקְרֶ֨ה אֶחָ֜ד לַצַּדִּ֤יק וְלָרָשָׁע֙ לַטּוֹב֙ וְלַטָּה֣וֹר וְלַטָּמֵ֔א וְלַזֹּבֵ֔חַ וְלַאֲשֶׁ֖ר אֵינֶ֣נּוּ זֹבֵ֑חַ כַּטּוֹב֙ כַּֽחֹטֶ֔א הַנִּשְׁבָּ֕ע כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר שְׁבוּעָ֥ה יָרֵֽא׃

‎3 ‏זֶ֣ה׀ רָ֗ע בְּכֹ֤ל אֲשֶֽׁר־נַעֲשָׂה֙ תַּ֣חַת הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ כִּֽי־מִקְרֶ֥ה אֶחָ֖ד לַכֹּ֑ל וְגַ֣ם לֵ֣ב בְּֽנֵי־הָ֠אָדָם מָלֵא־רָ֨ע וְהוֹלֵל֤וֹת בִּלְבָבָם֙ בְּחַיֵּיהֶ֔ם וְאַחֲרָ֖יו אֶל־הַמֵּתִֽים׃

‎4 ‏כִּי־מִי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יבחר יְחֻבַּ֔ר אֶ֥ל כָּל־הַחַיִּ֖ים יֵ֣שׁ בִּטָּח֑וֹן כִּֽי־לְכֶ֤לֶב חַי֙ ה֣וּא ט֔וֹב מִן־הָאַרְיֵ֖ה הַמֵּֽת׃

‎5 ‏כִּ֧י הַֽחַיִּ֛ים יוֹדְעִ֖ים שֶׁיָּמֻ֑תוּ וְהַמֵּתִ֞ים אֵינָ֧ם יוֹדְעִ֣ים מְא֗וּמָה וְאֵֽין־ע֤וֹד לָהֶם֙ שָׂכָ֔ר כִּ֥י נִשְׁכַּ֖ח זִכְרָֽם׃

‎6 ‏גַּ֣ם אַהֲבָתָ֧ם גַּם־שִׂנְאָתָ֛ם גַּם־קִנְאָתָ֖ם כְּבָ֣ר אָבָ֑דָה וְחֵ֨לֶק אֵין־לָהֶ֥ם עוֹד֙ לְעוֹלָ֔ם בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶֽׁר־נַעֲשָׂ֖ה תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃

‎7 ‏לֵ֣ךְ אֱכֹ֤ל בְּשִׂמְחָה֙ לַחְמֶ֔ךָ וּֽשֲׁתֵ֥ה בְלֶב־ט֖וֹב יֵינֶ֑ךָ כִּ֣י כְבָ֔ר רָצָ֥ה הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶֽת־מַעֲשֶֽׂיךָ׃

‎8 ‏בְּכָל־עֵ֕ת יִהְי֥וּ בְגָדֶ֖יךָ לְבָנִ֑ים וְשֶׁ֖מֶן עַל־רֹאשְׁךָ֥ אַל־יֶחְסָֽר׃

‎9 ‏רְאֵ֨ה חַיִּ֜ים עִם־אִשָּׁ֣ה אֲשֶׁר־אָהַ֗בְתָּ כָּל־יְמֵי֙ חַיֵּ֣י הֶבְלֶ֔ךָ אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָֽתַן־לְךָ֙ תַּ֣חַת הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֣י הֶבְלֶ֑ךָ כִּ֣י ה֤וּא חֶלְקְךָ֙ בַּֽחַיִּ֔ים וּבַעֲמָ֣לְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּ֥ה עָמֵ֖ל תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃

‎10 ‏כֹּ֠ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר תִּמְצָ֧א יָֽדְךָ֛ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת בְּכֹחֲךָ֖ עֲשֵׂ֑ה כִּי֩ אֵ֨ין מַעֲשֶׂ֤ה וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן֙ וְדַ֣עַת וְחָכְמָ֔ה בִּשְׁא֕וֹל אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתָּ֖ה הֹלֵ֥ךְ שָֽׁמָּה׃ ס

‎11 ‏שַׁ֜בְתִּי וְרָאֹ֣ה תַֽחַת־הַשֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ כִּ֣י לֹא֩ לַקַּלִּ֨ים הַמֵּר֜וֹץ וְלֹ֧א לַגִּבּוֹרִ֣ים הַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה וְ֠גַם לֹ֣א לַחֲכָמִ֥ים לֶ֙חֶם֙ וְגַ֨ם לֹ֤א לַנְּבֹנִים֙ עֹ֔שֶׁר וְגַ֛ם לֹ֥א לַיֹּדְעִ֖ים חֵ֑ן כִּי־עֵ֥ת וָפֶ֖גַע יִקְרֶ֥ה אֶת־כֻּלָּֽם׃

‎12 ‏כִּ֡י גַּם֩ לֹֽא־יֵדַ֨ע הָאָדָ֜ם אֶת־עִתּ֗וֹ כַּדָּגִים֙ שֶׁנֶּֽאֱחָזִים֙ בִּמְצוֹדָ֣ה רָעָ֔ה וְכַ֨צִּפֳּרִ֔ים הָאֲחֻז֖וֹת בַּפָּ֑ח כָּהֵ֗ם יֽוּקָשִׁים֙ בְּנֵ֣י הָֽאָדָ֔ם לְעֵ֣ת רָעָ֔ה כְּשֶׁתִּפּ֥וֹל עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם פִּתְאֹֽם׃

‎13 ‏גַּם־זֹ֛ה רָאִ֥יתִי חָכְמָ֖ה תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ וּגְדוֹלָ֥ה הִ֖יא אֵלָֽי׃

‎14 ‏עִ֣יר קְטַנָּ֔ה וַאֲנָשִׁ֥ים בָּ֖הּ מְעָ֑ט וּבָֽא־אֵלֶ֜יהָ מֶ֤לֶךְ גָּדוֹל֙ וְסָבַ֣ב אֹתָ֔הּ וּבָנָ֥ה עָלֶ֖יהָ מְצוֹדִ֥ים גְּדֹלִֽים׃

‎15 ‏וּמָ֣צָא בָ֗הּ אִ֤ישׁ מִסְכֵּן֙ חָכָ֔ם וּמִלַּט־ה֥וּא אֶת־הָעִ֖יר בְּחָכְמָת֑וֹ וְאָדָם֙ לֹ֣א זָכַ֔ר אֶת־הָאִ֥ישׁ הַמִּסְכֵּ֖ן הַהֽוּא׃

‎16 ‏וְאָמַ֣רְתִּי אָ֔נִי טוֹבָ֥ה חָכְמָ֖ה מִגְּבוּרָ֑ה וְחָכְמַ֤ת הַמִּסְכֵּן֙ בְּזוּיָ֔ה וּדְבָרָ֖יו אֵינָ֥ם נִשְׁמָעִֽים׃

‎17 ‏דִּבְרֵ֣י חֲכָמִ֔ים בְּנַ֖חַת נִשְׁמָעִ֑ים מִזַּעֲקַ֥ת מוֹשֵׁ֖ל בַּכְּסִילִֽים׃

‎18 ‏טוֹבָ֥ה חָכְמָ֖ה מִכְּלֵ֣י קְרָ֑ב וְחוֹטֶ֣א אֶחָ֔ד יְאַבֵּ֥ד טוֹבָ֥ה הַרְבֵּֽה׃

Vul

1 [Omnia hæc tractavi in corde meo,
ut curiose intelligerem.
Sunt justi atque sapientes,
et opera eorum in manu Dei;
et tamen nescit homo utrum amore an odio dignus sit.

2 Sed omnia in futurum servantur incerta,
eo quod universa æque eveniant justo et impio,
bono et malo, mundo et immundo,
immolanti victimas et sacrificia contemnenti.
Sicut bonus, sic et peccator;
ut perjurus, ita et ille qui verum dejerat.]

3 [Hoc est pessimum inter omnia quæ sub sole fiunt:
quia eadem cunctis eveniunt.
Unde et corda filiorum hominum implentur malitia
et contemptu in vita sua,
et post hæc ad inferos deducentur.

4 Nemo est qui semper vivat, et qui hujus rei habeat fiduciam;
melior est canis vivus leone mortuo.

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

6 Amor quoque, et odium, et invidiæ simul perierunt;
nec habent partem in hoc sæculo,
et in opere quod sub sole geritur.

7 Vade ergo, et comede in lætitia panem tuum,
et bibe cum gaudio vinum tuum,
quia Deo placent opera tua.

8 Omni tempore sint vestimenta tua candida,
et oleum de capite tuo non deficiat.

9 Perfruere vinum cum uxore quam diligis,
cunctis diebus vitæ instabilitatis tuæ,
qui dati sunt tibi sub sole omni tempore vanitatis tuæ:
hæc est enim pars in vita
et in labore tuo quo laboras sub sole.

10 Quodcumque facere potest manus tua,
instanter operare,
quia nec opus, nec ratio, nec sapientia, nec scientia
erunt apud inferos, quo tu properas.]

11 [Verti me ad aliud, et vidi sub sole
nec velocium esse cursum,
nec fortium bellum,
nec sapientium panem,
nec doctorum divitias,
nec artificum gratiam;
sed tempus casumque in omnibus.

12 Nescit homo finem suum;
sed sicut pisces capiuntur hamo,
et sicut aves laqueo comprehenduntur,
sic capiuntur homines in tempore malo,
cum eis extemplo supervenerit.

13 Hanc quoque sub sole vidi sapientiam,
et probavi maximam:

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

15 Inventusque est in ea vir pauper et sapiens,
et liberavit urbem per sapientiam suam;
et nullus deinceps recordatus est hominis illius pauperis.

16 Et dicebam ego meliorem esse sapientiam fortitudine.
Quomodo ergo sapientia pauperis contempta est,
et verba ejus non sunt audita?

17 Verba sapientium audiuntur in silentio,
plus quam clamor principis inter stultos.

18 Melior est sapientia quam arma bellica;
et qui in uno peccaverit, multa bona perdet.]