Ecclesiastes 9 קֹהֶלֶת פרק ט׳

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Ecclesiastes 9 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   כִּיkiforאֶת־כׇּל־זֶהet-kol-zeall thisנָתַתִּיna/TAT/tiI laidאֶל־לִבִּיel-lib/BIto my heartוְלָבוּרve/la/VUReven to declareאֶת־כׇּל־זֶהet-kol-zeall thisאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatהַצַּדִּיקִיםhats/tsad/di/KIMthe righteousוְהַחֲכָמִיםve/ha/cha/kha/MIMand the wiseוַעֲבָדֵיהֶםva/a/va/de/HEMand their worksבְּיַדbe/YADin the hand ofהָאֱלֹהִיםha/e/lo/HIMGodגַּם־אַהֲבָהgam-a/ha/VAwhether loveגַם־שִׂנְאָהgam-sin/Aor hatredאֵיןennoיוֹדֵעַyo/DE/aknowsהָאָדָםha/a/DAMmanהַכֹּלhak/KOLallלִפְנֵיהֶם׃lif/ne/HEMbefore them

   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 knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.

2. 2

   הַכֹּלhak/KOLallכַּאֲשֶׁרka/a/SHERasלַכֹּלlak/KOLto allמִקְרֶהmik/REan eventאֶחָדe/CHADoneלַצַּדִּיקlats/tsad/DIKto the righteousוְלָרָשָׁעve/la/ra/SHAand to the wickedלַטּוֹבlat/TOVto the goodוְלַטָּהוֹרve/lat/ta/HORand to the cleanוְלַטָּמֵאve/lat/ta/MEand to the uncleanוְלַזֹּבֵחַve/laz/zo/VE/achand to him that sacrificesוְלַאֲשֶׁרve/la/a/SHERand to him thatאֵינֶנּוּe/NEN/nunotזֹבֵחַzo/VE/achsacrificesכַּטּוֹבkat/TOVas is the goodכַּחֹטֶאka/cho/TEso is the sinnerהַנִּשְׁבָּעhan/nish/BAhe that swearsכַּאֲשֶׁרka/a/SHERasשְׁבוּעָהshe/vu/Aan oathיָרֵא׃ya/REfears

   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 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.

3. 3

   זֶהzethis isרָעraan evilבְּכֹלbe/KHOLamong allאֲשֶׁר־נַעֲשָׂהa/SHER-na/a/SAthat is doneתַּחַתTA/chatunderהַשֶּׁמֶשׁhash/SHE/meshthe sunכִּי־מִקְרֶהki-mik/REthat an eventאֶחָדe/CHADoneלַכֹּלlak/KOLto allוְגַםve/GAMyea alsoלֵבlevthe heart ofבְּנֵי־הָאָדָםbe/NE-ha/a/DAMthe sons of menמָלֵא־רָעma/LE-rais full of evilוְהוֹלֵלוֹתve/ho/le/LOTand madnessבִּלְבָבָםbil/va/VAMin their heartsבְּחַיֵּיהֶםbe/chay/ye/HEMwhile they liveוְאַחֲרָיוve/a/cha/RAYVand after thatאֶל־הַמֵּתִים׃el-ham/me/TIMto the dead

   This 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.

4. 4

   כִּי־מִיki-mifor whoאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthat(יבחר)yavachar[יְחֻבַּר]ye/chub/BARis joinedאֶלeltoכׇּל־הַחַיִּיםkol-ha/chay/YIMall the livingיֵשׁyeshthere isבִּטָּחוֹןbit/ta/CHONhopeכִּי־לְכֶלֶבki-le/KHE/levfor a dogחַיchaylivingהוּאhuit isטוֹבtovbetterמִן־הָאַרְיֵהmin-ha/ar/YEthan the lionהַמֵּת׃ham/METthe dead

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

5. 5

   כִּיkiforהַחַיִּיםha/chay/YIMthe livingיוֹדְעִיםyod/IMknowשֶׁיָּמֻתוּshey/ya/MU/tuthat they shall dieוְהַמֵּתִיםve/ham/me/TIMand the deadאֵינָםe/NAMthey are notיוֹדְעִיםyod/IMknowingמְאוּמָהme/U/maanythingוְאֵין־עוֹדve/EN-odand there is no moreלָהֶםla/HEMto themשָׂכָרsa/KHARa rewardכִּיkiforנִשְׁכַּחnish/KACHis forgottenזִכְרָם׃zikh/RAMthe memory of them

   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.

6. 6

   גַּםgamalsoאַהֲבָתָםa/ha/va/TAMtheir loveגַּם־שִׂנְאָתָםgam-sin/a/TAMand their hatredגַּם־קִנְאָתָםgam-kin/a/TAMand their envyכְּבָרke/VARalreadyאָבָדָהa/VA/dais perishedוְחֵלֶקve/CHE/lekand a portionאֵין־לָהֶםen-la/HEMthey have notעוֹדodany moreלְעוֹלָםle/o/LAMforeverבְּכֹלbe/KHOLin any thingאֲשֶׁר־נַעֲשָׂהa/SHER-na/a/SAthat is doneתַּחַתTA/chatunderהַשָּׁמֶשׁ׃hash/SHA/meshthe sun

   Also 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.

7. 7

   לֵךְlekhgoאֱכֹלe/KHOLeatבְּשִׂמְחָהbe/sim/CHAwith joyלַחְמֶךָlach/ME/khayour breadוּשְׁתֵהu/she/TEand drinkבְלֶב־טוֹבve/LEV-tovwith a merry heartיֵינֶךָye/NE/khayour wineכִּיkiforכְבָרkhe/VARalreadyרָצָהra/TSAacceptsהָאֱלֹהִיםha/e/lo/HIMGodאֶת־מַעֲשֶׂיךָ׃et-ma/a/SE/khayour works

   Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.

8. 8

   בְּכׇל־עֵתbe/KHOL-etat every timeיִהְיוּyih/YUlet beבְגָדֶיךָve/ga/DE/khayour clothesלְבָנִיםle/va/NIMwhiteוְשֶׁמֶןve/SHE/menand oilעַל־רֹאשְׁךָal-ro/she/KHAupon your headאַל־יֶחְסָר׃al-yech/SARlet not lack

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

9. 9

   רְאֵהre/Eseeחַיִּיםchay/YIMlifeעִם־אִשָּׁהim-ish/SHAwith the wifeאֲשֶׁר־אָהַבְתָּa/SHER-a/HAV/tawhom you loveכׇּל־יְמֵיkol-ye/MEall the days ofחַיֵּיchay/YEthe life ofהֶבְלֶךָhev/LE/khayour vanityאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichנָתַן־לְךָna/TAN-le/KHAHe has given youתַּחַתTA/chatunderהַשֶּׁמֶשׁhash/SHE/meshthe sunכֹּלkolallיְמֵיye/MEthe days ofהֶבְלֶךָhev/LE/khayour vanityכִּיkiforהוּאhuthat isחֶלְקְךָchel/ke/KHAyour portionבַּחַיִּיםba/chay/YIMin this lifeוּבַעֲמָלְךָu/va/a/ma/le/KHAand in your laborאֲשֶׁר־אַתָּהa/SHER-at/TAwhich youעָמֵלa/MELlaborתַּחַתTA/chatunderהַשָּׁמֶשׁ׃hash/SHA/meshthe sun

   Live 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.

10. 10

    כֹּלkolallאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatתִּמְצָאtim/TSAfindsיָדְךָya/de/KHAyour handלַעֲשׂוֹתla/a/SOTto doבְּכֹחֲךָbe/kho/cha/KHAwith your mightעֲשֵׂהa/SEdo itכִּיkiforאֵיןenthere is noמַעֲשֶׂהma/a/SEworkוְחֶשְׁבּוֹןve/chesh/BONnor deviceוְדַעַתve/DA/atnor knowledgeוְחׇכְמָהve/chokh/MAnor wisdomבִּשְׁאוֹלBish/OLin Sheolאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhitherאַתָּהat/TAyouהֹלֵךְho/LEKHgoשָׁמָּה׃SHAM/mathere

    Whatsoever 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.

11. 11

    שַׁבְתִּיSHAV/tiI returnedוְרָאֹהve/ra/Oand sawתַחַת־הַשֶּׁמֶשׁTA/chat-hash/SHE/meshunder the sunכִּיkithatלֹאlonotלַקַּלִּיםlak/kal/LIMto the swiftהַמֵּרוֹץham/me/ROTSis the raceוְלֹאve/LOand notלַגִּבּוֹרִיםlag/gib/bo/RIMto the strongהַמִּלְחָמָהham/mil/cha/MAthe battleוְגַםve/GAMand alsoלֹאlonotלַחֲכָמִיםla/cha/kha/MIMto the wiseלֶחֶםLE/chembreadוְגַםve/GAMand alsoלֹאlonotלַנְּבֹנִיםlan/ne/vo/NIMto men of understandingעֹשֶׁרO/sherrichesוְגַםve/GAMand alsoלֹאlonotלַיֹּדְעִיםlay/yod/IMto men of skillחֵןchenfavorכִּי־עֵתki-etbut timeוָפֶגַעva/FE/gaand chanceיִקְרֶהyik/REhappens toאֶת־כֻּלָּם׃et-kul/LAMthem all

    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 happeneth to them all.

12. 12

    כִּיkiforגַּםgamalsoלֹא־יֵדַעlo-ye/DAknows notהָאָדָםha/a/DAMmanאֶת־עִתּוֹet-it/TOhis timeכַּדָּגִיםkad/da/GIMas the fishesשֶׁנֶּאֱחָזִיםshen/ne/e/cha/ZIMthat are takenבִּמְצוֹדָהbim/tso/DAin a netרָעָהra/Aevilוְכַצִּפֳּרִיםve/khats/tsip/po/RIMand as the birdsהָאֲחֻזוֹתha/a/chu/ZOTthat are caughtבַּפָּחbap/PACHin the snareכָּהֵםka/HEMsoיוּקָשִׁיםyu/ka/SHIMare snaredבְּנֵיbe/NEthe sons ofהָאָדָםha/a/DAMmenלְעֵתle/ETin a timeרָעָהra/Aevilכְּשֶׁתִּפּוֹלke/shet/tip/POLwhen it fallsעֲלֵיהֶםa/le/HEMupon themפִּתְאֹם׃pit/OMsuddenly

    For 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.

13. 13

    גַּם־זֹהgam-zothis alsoרָאִיתִיra/I/tihave I seenחׇכְמָהchokh/MAwisdomתַּחַתTA/chatunderהַשָּׁמֶשׁhash/SHA/meshthe sunוּגְדוֹלָהu/ge/do/LAand greatהִיאhiit seemedאֵלָי׃e/LAYto me

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

14. 14

    עִירira cityקְטַנָּהke/tan/NAlittleוַאֲנָשִׁיםva/a/na/SHIMand menבָּהּbain itמְעָטme/ATfewוּבָא־אֵלֶיהָu/VA-e/LE/haand there came against itמֶלֶךְME/lekha kingגָּדוֹלga/DOLgreatוְסָבַבve/sa/VAVand besiegedאֹתָהּo/TAitוּבָנָהu/va/NAand builtעָלֶיהָa/LE/haagainst itמְצוֹדִיםme/tso/DIMbulwarksגְּדֹלִים׃ge/do/LIMgreat

    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:

15. 15

    וּמָצָאu/ma/TSAand he foundבָהּvain itאִישׁisha manמִסְכֵּןmis/KENpoorחָכָםcha/KHAMwiseוּמִלַּט־הוּאu/mil/LAT-huand he deliveredאֶת־הָעִירet-ha/IRthe cityבְּחׇכְמָתוֹbe/chokh/ma/TOby his wisdomוְאָדָםve/a/DAMyet no manלֹאlonotזָכַרza/KHARrememberedאֶת־הָאִישׁet-ha/ISHthe manהַמִּסְכֵּןham/mis/KENthe poorהַהוּא׃ha/HUthat

    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.

16. 16

    וְאָמַרְתִּיve/a/mar/TIthen I saidאָנִיA/niIטוֹבָהto/VAbetter isחׇכְמָהchokh/MAwisdomמִגְּבוּרָהmig/ge/vu/RAthan strengthוְחׇכְמַתve/chokh/MATyet the wisdom ofהַמִּסְכֵּןham/mis/KENthe poorבְּזוּיָהbe/zu/YAis despisedוּדְבָרָיוu/de/va/RAYVand his wordsאֵינָםe/NAMare notנִשְׁמָעִים׃nish/ma/IMheard

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

17. 17

    דִּבְרֵיdiv/REthe words ofחֲכָמִיםcha/kha/MIMthe wiseבְּנַחַתbe/NA/chatin quietנִשְׁמָעִיםnish/ma/IMare heardמִזַּעֲקַתmiz/za/a/KATmore than the cry ofמוֹשֵׁלmo/SHELhim that rulesבַּכְּסִילִים׃bak/ke/si/LIMamong fools

    The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

18. 18

    טוֹבָהto/VAbetter isחׇכְמָהchokh/MAwisdomמִכְּלֵיmik/ke/LEthan weapons ofקְרָבke/RAVwarוְחוֹטֶאve/cho/TEbut sinnerאֶחָדe/CHADoneיְאַבֵּדye/ab/BEDdestroysטוֹבָהto/VAgoodהַרְבֵּה׃har/BEmuch

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