9All this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God; whether it is love or hate one does not know. Everything that confronts them 2is vanity, since the same fate comes to all, to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to those who sacrifice and those who do not sacrifice. As are the good, so are the sinners; those who swear are like those who shun an oath. 3This is an evil in all that happens under the sun, that the same fate comes to everyone. Moreover, the hearts of all are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
4But whoever is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5The living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no more reward, and even the memory of them is lost. 6Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished; never again will they have any share in all that happens under the sun. 7Go, eat your bread with enjoyment, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has long ago approved what you do. 8Let your garments always be white; do not let oil be lacking on your head. 9Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that are given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. 10Whatever your hand finds to do, do with your might; for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.
11Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to the skillful; but time and chance happen to them all. 12For no one can anticipate the time of disaster. Like fish taken in a cruel net, and like birds caught in a snare, so mortals are snared at a time of calamity, when it suddenly falls upon them.
13I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me. 14There was a little city with few people in it. A great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it. 15Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. 16So I said, “Wisdom is better than might; yet the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heeded.” 17The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouting of a ruler among fools. 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one bungler destroys much good.
10Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a foul odor; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. 2The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left. 3Even when fools walk on the road, they lack sense, and show to everyone that they are fools.
4If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post, for calmness will undo great offenses. 5There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as great an error as if it proceeded from the ruler: 6folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. 7I have seen slaves on horseback, and princes walking on foot like slaves. 8Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a snake. 9Whoever quarries stones will be hurt by them; and whoever splits logs will be endangered by them. 10If the iron is blunt, and one does not whet the edge, then more strength must be exerted; but wisdom helps one to succeed. 11If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage in a charmer.
12Words spoken by the wise bring them favor, but the lips of fools consume them. 13The words of their mouths begin in foolishness, and their talk ends in wicked madness; 14yet fools talk on and on. No one knows what is to happen, and who can tell anyone what the future holds? 15The toil of fools wears them out, for they do not even know the way to town.
16Alas for you, O land, when your king is a servant, and your princes feast in the morning! 17Happy are you, O land, when your king is a nobleman, and your princes feast at the proper time— for strength, and not for drunkenness! 18Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks. 19Feasts are made for laughter; wine gladdens life, and money meets every need. 20Do not curse the king, even in your thoughts, or curse the rich, even in your bedroom; for a bird of the air may carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.
From the oremus Bible Browser https://bible.oremus.org v2.9.2 30 June 2021.