Anyone who is among the living has hope[a]—even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!

For the living know that they will die,
    but the dead know nothing;(A)
they have no further reward,
    and even their name(B) is forgotten.(C)
Their love, their hate
    and their jealousy have long since vanished;
never again will they have a part
    in anything that happens under the sun.(D)

Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine(E) with a joyful heart,(F) for God has already approved what you do. Always be clothed in white,(G) and always anoint your head with oil. Enjoy life with your wife,(H) whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your lot(I) in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun. 10 Whatever(J) your hand finds to do, do it with all your might,(K) for in the realm of the dead,(L) where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.(M)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 9:4 Or What then is to be chosen? With all who live, there is hope

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

For 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.

Also 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.

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

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

Live 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.

10 Whatsoever 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.

Read full chapter