Ecclesiastes

1 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.

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, καὶ γε ἀγάπην καὶ γε μῖσος οὐκ ἔστιν εἰδὼς ὁ ἄνθρωπος· τὰ πάντα πρὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν,	1 ὅτι σύμπαν τοῦτο ἔδωκα εἰς καρδίαν μου, καὶ καρδία μου σὺν πᾶν εἶδε τοῦτο, ὡς οἱ δίκαιοι καὶ οἱ σοφοὶ καὶ αἱ ἐργασίαι αὐτῶν ἐν χειρὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ, καί γε ἀγάπην καί γε μῖσος οὐκ ἐστιν εἰδὼς ὁ ἄνθρωπος· τὰ πάντα πρὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν, ματαιότης ἐν τοῖς πᾶσι.
1 I saw that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: yes, there is no man who knows either love or hatred, though all are before their face.	1 I saw that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: yes, there is no man who knows either love or hatred, though all are before their face.

2 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 who sacrifices, and to him who doesn’t sacrifice: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he who swears, as he who fears an oath.

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.	2 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, ὡς ὁ ἁμαρτάνων· ὡς ὁ ὀμνύων, καθὼς ὁ τὸν ὅρκον φοβούμενος.
2 Vanity is in all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good, and to the bad; both to the pure, and to the impure; both to him who sacrifices, and to him who doesn’t sacrifice: as is the good, so is the sinner: as is the swearer, even so is he who fears an oath.	2 Vanity is in all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good, and to the bad; both to the pure, and to the impure; both to him who sacrifices, and to him who doesn’t sacrifice: as is the good, so is the sinner: as is the swearer, even so is he who fears an oath.

3 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.

3 τοῦτο πονηρὸν ἐν παντὶ πεποιημένῳ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, ὅτι συνάντημα ἓν τοῖς πᾶσιν· καὶ γε καρδία υἱῶν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπληρώθη πονηροῦ, καὶ περιφέρεια ἐν καρδίᾳ αὐτῶν ἐν ζωῇ αὐτῶν, καὶ ὀπίσω αὐτῶν πρὸς τοὺς νεκρούς.	3 τοῦτο πονηρὸν ἐν παντὶ πεποιημένῳ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, ὅτι συνάντημα ἓν τοῖς πᾶσι· καί γε καρδία υἱῶν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπληρώθη πονηροῦ, καὶ περιφέρεια ἐν καρδίᾳ αὐτῶν ἐν ζωῇ αὐτῶν, καὶ ὀπίσω αὐτῶν πρὸς τοὺς νεκρούς.
3 There is this evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event to all: yes, the heart of the sons of men is filled with evil, and madness is in their heart during their life, and after that they go to the dead.	3 There is this evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event to all: yes, the heart of the sons of men is filled with evil, and madness is in their heart during their life, and after that they go to the dead.

4 For to him who is joined to all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

4 ὅτι τίς ὃς κοινωνεῖ πρὸς πάντας τοὺς ζῶντας; ἔστιν ἐλπίς, ὅτι ὁ κύων ὁ ζῶν, αὐτὸς ἀγαθὸς ὑπὲρ τὸν λέοντα τὸν νεκρόν.	4 ὅτι τίς ὃς κοινωνεῖ πρός πάντας τοὺς ζῶντας; ἐστιν ἐλπίς, ὅτι ὁ κύων ὁ ζῶν, αὐτὸς ἀγαθὸς ὑπὲρ τὸν λέοντα τὸν νεκρόν.
4 for who is he who has fellowship with all the living? There is hope of him; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.	4 for who is he who has fellowship with all the living? There is hope of him; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

5 For the living know that they shall die; but the dead don’t know anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

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·	5 ὅτι οἱ ζῶντες γνώσονται ὅτι ἀποθανοῦνται, καὶ οἱ νεκροὶ οὐκ εἰσὶ γινώσκοντες οὐδέν· καὶ οὐκ ἐστιν αὐτοῖς ἔτι μισθός, ὅτι ἐπελήσθη ἡ μνήμη αὐτῶν·
5 For the living will know that they shall die; but the dead know nothing, and there is no longer any reward to them; for their memory is lost.	5 For the living will know that they shall die; but the dead know nothing, and there is no longer any reward to them; for their memory is lost.

6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.

6 καὶ γε ἀγάπη αὐτῶν καὶ γε μῖσος αὐτῶν καὶ γε ζῆλος αὐτῶν ἤδη ἀπώλετο, καὶ μερὶς οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτοῖς ἔτι εἰς αἰῶνα ἐν παντὶ τῷ πεποιημένῳ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον.	6 καί γε ἀγάπη αὐτῶν καί γε μῖσος αὐτῶν καί γε ζῆλος αὐτῶν ἤδη ἀπώλετο, καί γε μερὶς οὐκ ἐστιν αὐτοῖς ἔτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἐν παντὶ τῷ πεποιημένῳ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον.
6 also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, have now perished; yes, there is no portion for them any more forever in all that is done under the sun.	6 also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, have now perished; yes, there is no portion for them any more forever in all that is done under the sun.

7 Go your way, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God now accepts your works.

7 δεῦρο φάγε ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ ἄρτον σου καὶ πίε ἐν καρδίᾳ ἀγαθῇ οἶνόν σου, ὅτι ἤδη εὐδόκησεν ὁ θεὸς τὰ ποιήματά σου.	7 Δεῦρο φάγε ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ τὸν ἄρτον σου καὶ πίε ἐν καρδίᾳ ἀγαθῇ οἶνόν σου, ὅτι ἤδη εὐδόκησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὰ ποιήματά σου.
7 Go, eat your bread with mirth, and drink your wine with a joyful heart; for now God has favourably accepted your works.	7 Go, eat your bread with mirth, and drink your wine with a joyful heart; for now God has favourably accepted your works.

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

8 ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ ἔστωσαν ἱμάτιά σου λευκά, καὶ ἔλαιον ἐπὶ κεφαλήν σου μὴ ὑστερησάτω.	8 ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ ἔστωσαν ἱμάτιά σου λευκά, καὶ ἔλαιον ἐπὶ κεφαλῆς σου μὴ ὑστερησάτω.
8 Let your garments be always white; and don’t let oil be lacking on your head.	8 Let your garments be always white; and don’t let oil be lacking on your head.

9 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.

9 ἰδὲ ζωὴν μετὰ γυναικός, ἧς ἠγάπησας, πάσας ἡμέρας ζωῆς ματαιότητός σου τὰς δοθείσας σοί 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.	9 καὶ ἰδὲ ζωὴν μετὰ γυναικός, ἧς ἠγάπησας, πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας ζωῆς ματαιότητός σου τὰς δοθείσας σοι ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, ὅτι αὐτὸ μερίς σου ἐν τῇ ζωῇ σου καὶ ἐν τῷ μόχθῳ σου, ᾧ σὺ μοχθεῖς ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον.
9 And see life with the wife whom you love all the days of the life of your vanity, which are given you under the sun; for that is your portion in your life, and in your labour in which you labour under the sun.	9 And see life with the wife whom you love all the days of the life of your vanity, which are given you under the sun; for that is your portion in your life, and in your labour in which you labour under the sun.

10 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, to which you go.

10 πάντα, ὅσα ἄν 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.	10 πάντας, ὅσα ἄν εὕρῃ ἡ χείρ σου τοῦ ποιῆσαι, ὡς ἡ δύναμίς σου ποίησον, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι ποίημα καὶ λογισμὸς καὶ γνῶσις καὶ σοφία ἐν ᾅδῃ, ὅπου σὺ πορεύῃ ἐκεῖ.
10 Whatever your hand shall find to do, do with all your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Hades wither you go.	10 Whatever your hand shall find to do, do with all your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Hades wither you go.

11 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 happens to them all.

11 ἐπέστρεψα καὶ εἶδον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον ὅτι οὐ τοῖς κούφοις ὁ δρόμος καὶ οὐ τοῖς δυνατοῖς ὁ πόλεμος καὶ γε οὐ τοῖς σοφοῖς ἄρτος καὶ γε οὐ τοῖς συνετοῖς πλοῦτος καὶ γε οὐ τοῖς γινώσκουσιν χάρις, ὅτι καιρὸς καὶ ἀπάντημα συναντήσεται τοῖς πᾶσιν αὐτοῖς.	11 Ἐπέστρεψα καὶ εἶδον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον ὅτι οὐ τοῖς κούφοις ὁ δρόμος καὶ οὐ τοῖς δυνατοῖς ὁ πόλεμος καί γε οὐ τῷ σοφῷ ἄρτος καί γε οὐ τοῖς συνετοῖς πλοῦτος καί γε οὐ τοῖς γινώσκουσι χάρις, ὅτι καιρὸς καὶ ἀπάντημα συναντήσεται τοῖς πᾶσιν αὐτοῖς.
11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor yet bread to the wise, nor yet wealth to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of knowledge; for time and chance will happen to them all.	11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor yet bread to the wise, nor yet wealth to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of knowledge; for time and chance will happen to them all.

12 For man also doesn’t know his time: as the fish 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 on them.

12 ὅτι καὶ 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.	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.
12 For surely man also doesn’t know his time: as fish that are taken in an evil net, and as birds that are caught in a snare; even thus the sons of men are snared at an evil time, when it falls suddenly on them.	12 For surely man also doesn’t know his time: as fish that are taken in an evil net, and as birds that are caught in a snare; even thus the sons of men are snared at an evil time, when it falls suddenly on them.

13 This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great to me.

13 καὶ γε τοῦτο εἶδον σοφίαν ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, καὶ μεγάλη ἐστὶν πρός με·	13 Καί γε τοῦτο εἶδον σοφίαν ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, καὶ μεγάλη ἐστὶ πρός με·
13 This I also saw to be wisdom under the sun, and it is great before me.	13 This I also saw to be wisdom under the sun, and it is great before me.

14 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.

14 πόλις μικρὰ καὶ ἄνδρες ἐν αὐτῇ ὀλίγοι, καὶ ἔλθῃ ἐπ’ αὐτὴν βασιλεὺς μέγας καὶ κυκλώσῃ αὐτὴν καὶ οἰκοδομήσῃ ἐπ’ αὐτὴν χάρακας μεγάλους·	14 πόλις μικρὰ καὶ ἄνδρες ἐν αὐτῇ ὀλίγοι, καὶ ἔλθῃ ἐπ’ αὐτὴν βασιλεὺς μέγας καὶ κυκλώσῃ αὐτὴν καὶ οἰκοδομήσῃ ἐπ’ αὐτὴν χάρακας μεγάλους·
14 suppose there were a little city, and few men in it; and there should come against it a great king, and surround it, and build great mounds against it;	14 suppose there were a little city, and few men in it; and there should come against it a great king, and surround it, and build great mounds against it;

15 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.

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.	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.
15 and should find in it a poor wise man, and he should save the city through his wisdom: yet no man would remember that poor man.	15 and should find in it a poor wise man, and he should save the city through his wisdom: yet no man would remember that poor man.

16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

16 καὶ εἶπα ἐγώ ἀγαθὴ σοφία ὑπὲρ δύναμιν· καὶ σοφία τοῦ πένητος ἐξουδενωμένη, καὶ λόγοι αὐτοῦ οὔκ εἰσιν ἀκουόμενοι.	16 καὶ εἶπα ἐγώ· ἀγαθὴ σοφία ὑπὲρ δύναμιν, καὶ σοφία τοῦ πένητος ἐξουδενωμένη, καὶ οἱ λόγοι αὐτοῦ οὐκ εἰσὶν ἀκουόμενοι.
16 And I said Wisdom is better than power: yet the wisdom of the poor man is set at nothing, and his words not listened to.	16 And I said Wisdom is better than power: yet the wisdom of the poor man is set at nothing, and his words not listened to.

17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him who rules among fools.

17 λόγοι σοφῶν ἐν ἀναπαύσει ἀκούονται ὑπὲρ κραυγὴν ἐξουσιαζόντων ἐν ἀφροσύναις.	17 λόγοι σοφῶν ἐν ἀναπαύσει ἀκούονται ὑπὲρ κραυγὴν ἐξουσιαζόντων ἐν ἀφροσύναις.
17 The words of the wise are heard in quiet more than the cry of those who rule in folly.	17 The words of the wise are heard in quiet more than the cry of those who rule in folly.

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good.

18 ἀγαθὴ σοφία ὑπὲρ σκεύη πολέμου, καὶ ἁμαρτάνων εἷς ἀπολέσει ἀγαθωσύνην πολλήν.	18 ἀγαθὴ σοφία ὑπὲρ σκεύη πολέμου, καὶ ἁμαρτάνων εἷς ἀπολέσει ἀγαθωσύνην πολλήν.
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war; and one sinner will destroy much good.	18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war; and one sinner will destroy much good.