Ecclesiastes:9

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* I considered all this in my heart and declared that the righteous and their works are in the hand of God . No man knows if love or hatred awaits him in the future . * The same thing comes 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 does not sacrifice . As is the good , so is the sinner ; and he that swears , as he that fears and refrains from an oath . * This evil is in all things that are done under the sun . There is one event that comes to all . The heart of the sons of men is full of evil . Madness is in their heart while they live . After that they go to the dead . * Whoever is joined to all the living has hope . A living dog is better than a dead lion . * The living know that they will die ! The dead do not know anything . They do not have any more reward . Their memory is forgotten . * Their love , their hatred , and their envy , is now gone , perished ! They do not share anything that is done under the sun . * Go your way , eat your bread with joy , and drink your wine with a merry heart for God now accepts your works . * Let your garments be always white ; and let your head lack no ointment . * Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of the life he has given you under the sun , all the days of your vanity . That is your share in this life and in your labor under the sun . * 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 are going . * I returned , and saw under the sun , that the race is not to the swift . The battle is not to the strong . Bread does not go to the wise , or riches to men of understanding . Men of skill do not always receive favor , but time and unexpected circumstance happens to them all . * For man does not know his time . Like fish caught in an evil net , and like birds caught in the snare ; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time , when it falls suddenly upon them . * I have seen this wisdom under the sun , and it seemed important to me . * There was a little city with a small population . A great king moved against it . He built great bulwarks against it and attacked it . * Now there was found in it a poor wise man . By his wisdom he delivered the city . Yet no man remembered that same poor man . * Then I said : »Wisdom is better than strength .« Nevertheless the poor man 's wisdom is despised , and his words are not heard . * The words of the wise heard in quietness are more than the loud cry of the ruler of fools . * Wisdom is better than weapons of war , yet one sinner destroys much good .

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