1But all 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, man does not know; both are before him. (De 33:3; Ec 8:14)2It is the same for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil,[1] to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As the good one is, so is the sinner, and he who swears is as he who shuns an oath. (Job 9:22; Ec 2:14; Zec 5:3; Mal 3:5)3This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all. Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead. (Ec 1:17; Ec 9:2)4But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.5For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. (Job 14:21; Ps 31:12; Ps 88:5; Ps 88:12; Ec 1:11; Ec 8:10; Isa 26:14)6Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more share in all that is done under the sun.
Enjoy Life with the One You Love
7Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do. (Ec 2:24)8Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head. (Ps 23:5; Re 3:4)9Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain[2] life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. (Ec 2:10; Ec 6:12; Ec 7:15)10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might,[3] for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going. (Ec 9:5; Ro 12:11; Col 3:23)
Wisdom Better Than Folly
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 those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. (1Ki 22:34; 2Ch 20:15; Ec 2:14; Ec 4:1; Ec 4:7; Jer 9:23; Am 2:14; Ro 9:16)12For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them. (Pr 7:23; Pr 29:6; Ec 8:7; Eze 12:13; Ho 7:12; Lu 21:34; 1Th 5:3)13I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me.14There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it.15But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. (2Sa 20:22; Ec 4:13; Ec 9:18)16But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heard. (Ec 7:19; Mr 6:2)17The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. (Ec 4:6)18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good. (Jos 7:1; Ec 9:16)
1So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God’s hands, but no-one knows whether love or hate awaits them.2All share a common destiny – the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad,[1] the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not. As it is with the good, so with the sinful; as it is with those who take oaths, so with those who are afraid to take them.3This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of people, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterwards they join the dead.4Anyone who is among the living has hope[2] – even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!5For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even their name is forgotten.6Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun.7Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.8Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil.9Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun – all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labour under the sun.10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.11I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favour to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.12Moreover, no-one knows when their hour will come: As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so people are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them.
Wisdom better than folly
13I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed me:14there was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it.15Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man.16So I said, ‘Wisdom is better than strength.’ But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.17The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools.18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
1I thought about all these things. I realised that those who are wise and do what is right are under God’s control. What they do is also under his control. But no one knows whether they will be loved or hated.2Everyone will die someday. Death comes to godly and sinful people alike. It comes to good and bad people alike. It comes to ‘clean’ and ‘unclean’ people alike. Those who offer sacrifices and those who don’t offer them also die. A good person dies, and so does a sinner. Those who make promises die. So do those who are afraid to make them.3Here’s what is so bad about everything that happens on this earth. Death catches up with all of us. Also, the hearts of people are full of evil. They live in foolish pleasure. After that, they join those who have already died.4Anyone who is still living has hope. Even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!5People who are still alive know they’ll die. But those who have died don’t know anything. They don’t receive any more rewards. And even their name is forgotten.6Their love, hate and jealousy disappear. They will never share again in anything that happens on earth.7Go and enjoy your food. Be joyful as you drink your wine. God has already approved what you do.8Always wear white clothes to show you are happy. Anoint your head with olive oil.9You love your wife. So enjoy life with her. Do it all the days of this meaningless life God has given you on earth. That’s what he made you for. That’s what you get for all your hard work on earth.10No matter what you do, work at it with all your might. Remember, you are going to the place of the dead. And there isn’t any work or planning or knowledge or wisdom there.11Here’s something else I’ve seen on this earth. Races aren’t always won by those who run fast. Battles aren’t always won by those who are strong. Wise people don’t always have plenty of food. Clever people aren’t always wealthy. Those who have learned a lot aren’t always successful. God controls the timing of every event. He also controls how things turn out.12No one knows when trouble will come to them. Fish are caught in nets. Birds are taken in traps. And people are trapped by hard times that come when they don’t expect them.
Being wise is better than being foolish
13Here’s something else I saw on this earth. I saw an example of wisdom that touched me deeply.14There was once a small city. Only a few people lived there. A powerful king attacked it. He brought in war machines all around it.15A certain man lived in that city. He was poor but wise. He used his wisdom to save the city. But no one remembered that poor man.16So I said, ‘It’s better to be wise than to be powerful.’ But people look down on the poor man’s wisdom. No one pays any attention to what he says.17People should listen to the quiet words of those who are wise. That’s better than paying attention to the shouts of a ruler of foolish people.18Wisdom is better than weapons of war. But one sinner destroys a lot of good.
Ecclesiastes 9
King James Version
1For 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 knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.2All 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 sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.3This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto 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.4For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.5For 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.6Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.7Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.8Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.9Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.10Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.11I 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 happeneth to them all.12For man also knoweth 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 falleth suddenly upon them.13This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me:14There 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:15Now 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.16Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man' wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.17The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.18Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.
Ecclesiastes 9
Einheitsübersetzung 2016
from Katholisches Bibelwerk1Denn ich habe über dies alles nachgedacht und dies alles überprüft, wobei sich ergab: Die Gesetzestreuen und Gebildeten mit ihrem Tun stehen unter Gottes Verfügung. Der Mensch erkennt nicht, ob er geliebt ist oder ob er verschmäht ist. So liegt auch bei ihnen beides offen vor ihnen. (Job 12:9; Ps 32:4; Ec 2:24; Ec 3:8; Ec 7:15; Wis 3:1)2Beides - wie bei allen Menschen. Aber ein und dasselbe Geschick trifft den Gesetzestreuen und den Gesetzesbrecher, den Guten, den Reinen und den Unreinen, den Opfernden und den, der nicht opfert. Dem Guten ergeht es wie dem Sünder, dem Schwörenden ebenso wie dem, der den Schwur scheut. (Le 10:10; Ec 2:14; Ec 3:19; Ec 7:15; Eze 9:1; Eze 18:1; Mt 5:33; Sir 23:9)3Das ist das Schlimme an allem, was unter der Sonne getan wurde, dass alle dann ein und dasselbe Geschick trifft und dass in den Menschen überdies die Lust zum Bösen wächst und Verblendung ihren Geist erfasst, während sie leben und danach, wenn sie zu den Toten müssen -[1] (Ge 2:16; Ge 3:22; Ec 8:11)4ja, wer würde da ausgenommen? Für jeden Lebenden gibt es noch Zuversicht. Denn:
Ein lebender Hund ist besser als ein toter Löwe. (Ps 130:4)5Ja, die Lebenden erkennen, dass sie sterben werden; die Toten aber erkennen nichts mehr. Sie erhalten auch keinen Lohn mehr, denn die Erinnerung an sie ist in Vergessenheit versunken. (Ec 1:11)6Liebe, Hass und Eifersucht gegen sie, all dies ist längst erloschen. Auf ewig haben sie keinen Anteil mehr an allem, was unter der Sonne getan wurde. (Job 14:10; Ec 2:10)
RATSCHLÄGE KOHELETS
Freude und kraftvolles Handeln
7Also: Iss freudig dein Brot und trink vergnügt deinen Wein; denn das, was du tust, hat Gott längst so festgelegt, wie es ihm gefiel. (Ps 104:14; Pr 15:13; Pr 17:22; Ec 2:10; Isa 22:13; Wis 1:16; Sir 14:11)8Trag jederzeit frische Kleider und nie fehle duftendes Öl auf deinem Haupt! (Es 8:15)9Mit einer Frau, die du liebst, genieß das Leben alle Tage deines Lebens voll Windhauch, die er dir unter der Sonne geschenkt hat, alle deine Tage voll Windhauch! Denn das ist dein Anteil am Leben und an dem Besitz, für den du dich unter der Sonne anstrengst. (2Sa 11:11; Pr 5:18; So 5:1)10Alles, was deine Hand, solange du Kraft hast, zu tun vorfindet, das tu! Denn es gibt weder Tun noch Rechnen noch Können noch Wissen in der Unterwelt, zu der du unterwegs bist. (1Sa 10:7)
Zufall und Zeit
11Wiederum habe ich unter der Sonne beobachtet:
Nicht den Schnellen gehört im Wettlauf der Sieg, / nicht den Tapferen der Sieg im Kampf, / auch nicht den Gebildeten die Nahrung, auch nicht den Klugen der Reichtum, / auch nicht den Könnern der Beifall, / sondern jeden treffen Zufall und Zeit. (1Sa 17:33; Pr 16:9; Ec 3:1; Am 2:14; Ro 9:6)12Außerdem: Der Mensch kennt seine Zeit nicht.
Wie Fische, die ins Unglücksnetz geraten sind, / wie Vögel, die ins Klappnetz geraten sind, / ebenso verfangen sich die einzelnen Menschen in ihre Unglückszeit, / wenn sie plötzlich über sie herabfällt.
Wissen und Macht
13Auch Folgendes habe ich unter der Sonne beobachtet, ein Beispiel von Wissen, das ich für bedeutsam hielt:14Es war eine kleine Stadt. Die hatte nur wenige Einwohner. Ein mächtiger König zog gegen sie aus. Er schloss sie ein und baute gegen sie hohe Belagerungstürme. (2Sa 20:15; Sir 16:4)15In der Stadt fand sich ein armer, aber gebildeter Mann. Er hätte die Stadt durch sein Wissen retten können, doch kein Mensch dachte an diesen armen Mann.[2]16Da sagte ich:
Wissen ist besser als Macht, / aber das Wissen des Armen gilt nichts / und niemand will seine Worte hören. (Pr 14:20; Pr 18:23; Pr 24:5; Ec 7:19; Sir 13:22)17Bedächtige Worte von Gebildeten hört man sich lieber an / als das Geschrei des Herrschers der Ungebildeten (Pr 21:22)18und Wissen ist besser als Waffen - / aber ein Einziger, der falsch entscheidet, / kann viele Werte zerstören. (1Ki 12:1; Ec 4:13; Wis 6:24)