For all this I put to my heart and [I sought to] make all this clear: that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God; whether it be love or hate, man does not know, all is before them.

For all this I laid to my heart, and sought to clarify all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their deeds, are in the hand of God: no man knows whether love or hatred is in store: all is before them.

For all of this I took to heart and [I endeavored] to elucidate all this, that the righteous and the sages and their servants [(their disciples, attendants, and emulators] are in the hand of G-d. [He assists and judges them to benefit them in their latter end.] [Parameters of] both love [i.e., what would make men loved by the L-rd] and of hatred are unknown to [other] men; but all [lies revealed] before them [(the righteous and the sages)].

All things come alike to all; the same fate [awaits] the righteous and the wicked, the good and the pure and the impure, to him who brings offerings, and to him who does not bring offerings; as is with the good man so is it with the sinner, as is with the one who swears [easily] so is it with the one who fears an oath.

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 does not sacrifice: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he who swears, as he who fears an oath.

All [take it to heart] when [they perceive that] all [men receive their just desserts]. [And all men know] that one fate [(death)] befalls all men in this world. But the righteous, knowing that judgment awaits all men in the world to come, choose to be righteous in this world.] [Some instances of the above phenomenon:] the righteous one [(Noach)] and the wicked one [(Pharaoh Nechoh), both of whom were lame], the pure one [(Aaron)] and the unclean one [(the spies) — the same fate [(not entering Eretz Yisrael) befalling both, though Aaron spoke in praise of the land, and the spies, against it]; the sacrificer [Yoshiyahu, viz. II Chronicles 35:11) and the non-sacrificer [(Achav) — both of whom were slain by arrows]; the good man [(David, who built the Temple)] and the sinner [(Nevuchadnezzar, who destroyed it) — both reigned forty years]; the false swearer [(Tzidkiyahu, viz. II Chronicles 36:134)] and the fearer of oaths [(Shimshon, viz. Judges 15:12,) both of whom died by having their eyes gouged out.]

This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that the same fate awaits all; [therefore], the hearts of men are filled with evil, and madness is in their hearts during their lifetime, and afterwards they join the dead.

This is an evil in all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event to all: yea, 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.

This is an evil among all that is done under the sun — that one fate befalls all. And the heart of men, too, is full of evil. [(They say that there is no punishment for the wicked and that everything is governed by chance, the same thing happening, sometimes to the righteous and sometimes to the wicked.)] There is revelry in their hearts in their lives, and afterwards — to the dead [i.e., Gehinnom].

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

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

For one [(even a wicked one)] who is connected to all that lives [(even to wicked men)] has hope [(of repenting before he dies)], for [(in this respect]) it is better to be a living dog than a dead lion.

For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and there is no further reward for them, for their memory is forgotten.

For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know nothing, nor do they have any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

For the living know that they will die [(and the thought of death might move them to repentance)]. But the dead know nothing, and reward [(for new mitzvoth)] no longer awaits them, their remembrance having been forgotten.

Also their love, their hate, and their jealousy have already perished; and a portion they will never again have in anything that is done under the sun.

Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now long perished; nor have they any more a portion forever in any thing that is done under the sun.

Also their love of [(idolatrous folly)]; also their hatred [of wisdom]; also their [objects of G-d's] envy, [i.e., their idols], have already gone lost; but they will never have a portion [i.e., the merits of their children (to atone for them after their death)] in all that is done under the sun.

Go eat your bread in joy, and drink your wine with a glad heart; for already God has accepted your deeds.

Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God has already accepted thy works.

[But you, the righteous one,] go and eat your bread in joy, and drink your wine with a good heart, for G-d has already accepted your good deeds [and you will merit the world to come.]

At all times, let your garments be white; and your head never lack oil.

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

At all times let your garments be white, and let oil not be lacking upon your head [i.e., be constantly engaged in mitzvoth, so that if you die today, you will enter the world to come in peace.]

See [to enjoy] life with the wife you love, all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun—all the days of your vanity;—for that is your portion in life, and in your labor in which you toil under the sun.

Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he has given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in life, and in thy labour in which thou dost labour under the sun.

See life with the woman that you love [i.e., choose an occupation that will provide sustenance for you, together with your Torah study], all the days of the life of your vanity [i.e., your life in this world] that He has given you under the sun all the days of your vanity. For it is your portion in this life and in your toil wherein you toil under the sun [i.e., if you do this, you will enjoy life both in this world and in the world to come; for engaging in both (labor and Torah study) banishes sin.]

Whatever you are able to do do with all your might; for there is neither deed, nor strategy, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave where you are going.

Whatever thy hand finds to do, do it with thy strength, for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in She᾽ol, whither thou goest.

All that your hand finds to do [(in accordance with the will of your Master)], while you are [yet] in your strength [(in this world)], do it. For there is no act [to your credit after you die. And if you act righteously during your lifetime, there is no] accounting [that you need fear] in the grave whither you go. [Neither is there act] or knowledge or wisdom [there to the credit of the wicked, who will have to give an accounting for their sins.]

Again I saw under the sun: that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor does bread [come] to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to the learned; for time and chance happen to them all.

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 riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happens to them all.

I turned and saw under the sun that not to the swift is the race, and not to the strong is the war, and also, not to the wise is bread, and also, not the understanding is wealth, and also, not to the knowing is favor; for time and chance befall all.

For also, man does not know his time, as fish that are caught in a fatal net, as birds that are caught in a snare; like them, men are snared in the moment of misfortune, when it falls upon them suddenly.

For man also knows not his time: like the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and like 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.

For a man also does not know his time, like fishes that are caught in a flimsy net and like birds that are caught in the snare. Like them, men are snared in a time of evil [i.e., when their evil is visited upon them], when it falls upon them suddenly.

This, too, I have seen [concerning] wisdom under the sun; and its impact was great upon me.

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

Also this [(what follows)] have I seen to be wisdom under the sun, and it is great to me.

[There was] a small city, with few men within it; and a mighty king came upon it and surrounded it and built great bulwarks against it.

there was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great siegeworks against it:

A little city, and few people in it, and there came to it a great king and surrounded it, and built against it great siegeworks.

But there was found in the city, a poor wise man, and he saved the city with his wisdom; yet no person remembered that poor man.

now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom saved the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.

And he found therein a wise, unfortunate man, who rescued the city with his wisdom, and no one remembered that unfortunate man [i.e., he was regarded as naught.]

And [yet] I said: “Wisdom is better than might; [although] a poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words go unheeded.

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

And I said to myself: Better is wisdom than strength [(wisdom having rescued the city where strength had failed)]; but the wisdom of the poor one is shamed, and his words are not heeded.

The words of the wise, are received with pleasure more than the shouts of a ruler of fools.

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

The words of the wise spoken softly are more readily accepted than the cry of the ruler of the fools.

Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys a multitude of good.

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

Better wisdom than weapons of war; and one sinner can destroy an abundance of good.