Ecclesiastes

Chapter 9

Phonetic (Hebrew): kּi֣y 'et-kּal-ze֞h nata֤tּiy 'el-libּiy֙ velab֣ur 'et-kּal-ze֔h 'ashshe֨r hatzּadּiyqi֧ym vehachakami֛ym va'abadeyhe֖m bּeya֣d ha'elohi֑ym gּaֽm-'ahaba֣h gam-shsine'a֗h 'e֤yn yode֨'a֙ haֽ'ada֔m hakּo֖l lipeneyheֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)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 knows either love or hatred by all that is before them.

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

Phonetic (Hebrew): hakּo֞l kּa'ashshe֣r lakּo֗l miqere֨h 'echa֜d latzּadּi֤yq velarashsha'֙ latּob֙ velatּah֣or velatּame֔ velazּobe֔cha vela'ashshe֖r 'eyne֣nּu zobe֑cha kּatּob֙ kּaֽchote֔ hanּishshebּa֕ kּa'ashshe֖r shshebu'a֥h yareֽ'׃

Edified Edition (EDE)All 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 sacrifices, and to him that sacrifices not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that swears, as he that fears an oath.

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

Phonetic (Hebrew): ze֣h ׀ ra֗ bּeko֤l 'ashsheֽr-na'ashsah֙ tּa֣chat hashshּe֔meshsh kּiֽy-miqere֥h 'echa֖d lakּo֑l vega֣m le֣b bּeֽney-ha֠'adam male'-ra֨ veholel֤ot bּilebabam֙ bּechayּeyhe֔m ve'achara֖yv 'el-hamּetiֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event to all: yes, 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.

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

Phonetic (Hebrew): kּiy-miy֙ 'ashshe֣r ybchr yechubּa֔r 'e֥l kּal-hachayּi֖ym ye֣shsh bּitּach֑on kּiֽy-leke֤leb chay֙ h֣u t֔ob min-ha'areye֖h hamּeֽt׃

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

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

Phonetic (Hebrew): kּi֧y haֽchayּi֛ym yode'i֖ym shsheyּamu֑tu vehamּeti֞ym 'eyna֧m yode'i֣ym me'֗umah ve'eֽyn-'֤od lahem֙ shsaka֔r kּi֥y nishshekּa֖ch zikeraֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)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.

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

Phonetic (Hebrew): gּa֣m 'ahabata֧m gּam-shsine'ata֛m gּam-qine'ata֖m kּeba֣r 'aba֑dah veche֨leq 'eyn-lahe֥m 'od֙ le'ola֔m bּeko֥l 'ashsheֽr-na'ashsa֖h tּa֥chat hashshּaֽmeshsh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in any thing that is done under the sun.

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

Phonetic (Hebrew): le֣ke 'eko֤l bּeshsimechah֙ lacheme֔ka uֽshshate֥h beleb-t֖ob yeyne֑ka kּi֣y keba֔r ratza֥h ha'elohi֖ym 'eֽt-ma'ashseֽyka׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Go your way, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God now accepts your works.

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

Phonetic (Hebrew): bּekal-'e֕t yihey֥u begade֖yka lebani֑ym veshshe֖men 'al-ro'shsheka֥ 'al-yechesaֽr׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Let your garments be always white; and let your head lack no ointment.

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

Phonetic (Hebrew): re'e֨h chayּi֜ym 'im-'ishshּa֣h 'ashsher-'aha֗betּa kּal-yemey֙ chayּe֣y hebele֔ka 'ashshe֤r naֽtan-leka֙ tּa֣chat hashshּe֔meshsh kּo֖l yeme֣y hebele֑ka kּi֣y h֤u cheleqeka֙ bּaֽchayּi֔ym uba'ama֣leka֔ 'ashsher-'atּa֥h 'ame֖l tּa֥chat hashshּaֽmeshsh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of the life of your vanity, which He has given you under the sun, all the days of your vanity: for that is your portion in this life, and in your labour which you take under the sun.

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׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): kּo֠l 'ashshe֨r tּimetza֧ yaֽdeka֛ la'ashs֥ot bּekochaka֖ 'ashse֑h kּiy֩ 'e֨yn ma'ashse֤h vecheshshebּon֙ veda֣'at vechakema֔h bּishshe'֕ol 'ashshe֥r 'atּa֖h hole֥ke shshaֽmּah׃s

Edified Edition (EDE)Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, where you go.

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

Phonetic (Hebrew): shsha֜betּiy vera'o֣h taֽchat-hashshּe֗meshsh kּi֣y lo'֩ laqּalּi֨ym hamּer֜otz velo֧ lagּibּori֣ym hamּilechama֗h ve֠gam lo֣ lachakami֥ym le֨chem֙ vega֨m lo֤ lanּeboniym֙ 'o֔shsher vega֛m lo֥ layּode'i֖ym che֑n kּiy-'e֥t vape֖ga yiqere֥h 'et-kּulּaֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)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 happen to them all.

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

Phonetic (Hebrew): kּi֡y gּam֩ loֽ'-yeda֨ ha'ada֜m 'et-'itּ֗o kּadּagiym֙ shshenּeֽ'echaziym֙ bּimetzoda֣h ra'a֔h veka֨tzּipּori֔ym ha'achuz֖ot bּapּa֑ch kּahe֗m yֽuqashshiym֙ bּene֣y haֽ'ada֔m le'e֣t ra'a֔h kּeshshetּipּ֥ol 'aleyhe֖m pּite'oֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)For man also knows 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 falls suddenly upon them.

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

Phonetic (Hebrew): gּam-zo֛h ra'i֥ytiy chakema֖h tּa֣chat hashshּa֑meshsh ugedola֥h hi֖y 'elaֽy׃

Edified Edition (EDE)This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great to me:

גַּם־זֹ֛ה רָאִ֥יתִי חָכְמָ֖ה תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ וּגְדוֹלָ֥ה הִ֖יא אֵלָֽי׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): i֣yr qetanּa֔h va'anashshi֥ym bּa֖hּ me'a֑t ubaֽ'-'ele֜yha me֤leke gּadol֙ vesaba֣b 'ota֔hּ ubana֥h 'ale֖yha metzodi֥ym gּedoliֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)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:

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

Phonetic (Hebrew): uma֣tza ba֗hּ 'i֤yshsh misekּen֙ chaka֔m umilּat-h֥u 'et-ha'i֖yr bּechakemat֑o ve'adam֙ lo֣ zaka֔r 'et-ha'i֥yshsh hamּisekּe֖n hahּֽu'׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Now 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.

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

Phonetic (Hebrew): ve'ama֣retּiy 'a֔niy toba֥h chakema֖h migּebura֑h vechakema֤t hamּisekּen֙ bּezuya֔h udebara֖yv 'eyna֥m nishshema'iֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Then said I, "Wisdom is better than strength:" nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

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

Phonetic (Hebrew): dּibere֣y chakami֔ym bּena֖chat nishshema'i֑ym mizּa'aqa֥t moshshe֖l bּakּesiyliֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that rules among fools.

דִּבְרֵ֣י חֲכָמִ֔ים בְּנַ֖חַת נִשְׁמָעִ֑ים מִזַּעֲקַ֥ת מוֹשֵׁ֖ל בַּכְּסִילִֽים׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): toba֥h chakema֖h mikּele֣y qera֑b vechote֣ 'echa֔d ye'abּe֥d toba֥h harebּeֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroys much good.

טוֹבָ֥ה חָכְמָ֖ה מִכְּלֵ֣י קְרָ֑ב וְחוֹטֶ֣א אֶחָ֔ד יְאַבֵּ֥ד טוֹבָ֥ה הַרְבֵּֽה׃