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Eclesiastes, 9

1. oti sun pan touto edwka eiV kardian mou kai kardia mou sun pan eiden touto wV oi dikaioi kai oi sofoi kai ergasiai autwn en ceiri tou qeou kai ge agaphn kai ge misoV ouk estin eidwV o anqrwpoV ta panta pro proswpou autwn

1. omnia hæc tractavi in corde meo ut curiose intellegerem sunt justi atque sapientes et opera eorum in manu Dei et tamen nescit homo utrum amore an odio dignus sit

2. mataiothV en toiV pasin sunanthma en tw dikaiw kai tw asebei tw agaqw kai tw kakw kai tw kaqarw kai tw akaqartw kai tw qusiazonti kai tw mh qusiazonti wV o agaqoV wV o amartanwn wV o omnuwn kaqwV o ton orkon foboumenoV

2. sed omnia in futuro servantur incerta eo quod universa æque eveniant justo et impio bono et malo mundo et inmundo immolanti victimas et sacrificia contemnenti sicut bonus sic et peccator ut periurus ita et ille qui verum dejerat

3. touto ponhron en panti pepoihmenw upo ton hlion oti sunanthma en toiV pasin kai ge kardia uiwn tou anqrwpou eplhrwqh ponhrou kai perifereia en kardia autwn en zwh autwn kai opisw autwn proV touV nekrouV

3. hoc est pessimum inter omnia quæ sub sole fiunt quia eadem cunctis eveniunt unde et corda filiorum hominum implentur malitia et contemptu in vita sua et post hæc ad inferos deducentur

4. oti tiV oV koinwnei proV pantaV touV zwntaV estin elpiV oti o kuwn o zwn autoV agaqoV uper ton leonta ton nekron

4. nemo est qui semper vivat et qui hujus rei habeat fiduciam melior est canis vivens leone mortuo

5. oti oi zwnteV gnwsontai oti apoqanountai kai oi nekroi ouk eisin ginwskonteV ouden kai ouk estin autoiV eti misqoV oti epelhsqh h mnhmh autwn

5. viventes enim sciunt se esse morituros mortui vero nihil noverunt amplius nec habent ultra mercedem quia oblivioni tradita est memoria eorum

6. kai ge agaph autwn kai ge misoV autwn kai ge zhloV autwn hdh apwleto kai meriV ouk estin autoiV eti eiV aiwna en panti tw pepoihmenw upo ton hlion

6. amor quoque et odium et invidia simul perierunt nec habent partem in hoc sæculo et in opere quod sub sole geritur

7. deuro fage en eufrosunh arton sou kai pie en kardia agaqh oinon sou oti hdh eudokhsen o qeoV ta poihmata sou

7. vade ergo et comede in lætitia panem tuum et bibe cum gaudio vinum tuum quia Deo placent opera tua

8. en panti kairw estwsan imatia sou leuka kai elaion epi kefalhn sou mh usterhsatw

8. omni tempore sint vestimenta tua candida et oleum de capite tuo non deficiat

9. ide zwhn meta gunaikoV hV hgaphsaV pasaV hmeraV zwhV mataiothtoV sou taV doqeisaV soi upo ton hlion pasaV hmeraV mataiothtoV sou oti auto meriV sou en th zwh sou kai en tw mocqw sou w su mocqeiV upo ton hlion

9. perfruere vita cum uxore quam diligis cunctis diebus vitæ instabilitatis tuæ qui dati sunt tibi sub sole omni tempore vanitatis tuæ hæc est enim pars in vita et in labore tuo quod laboras sub sole

10. panta osa an eurh h ceir sou tou poihsai wV h dunamiV sou poihson oti ouk estin poihma kai logismoV kai gnwsiV kai sofia en adh opou su poreuh ekei

10. quodcumque potest manus tua facere instanter operare quia nec opus nec ratio nec scientia nec sapientia erunt apud inferos quo tu properas

11. epestreya kai eidon upo ton hlion oti ou toiV koufoiV o dromoV kai ou toiV dunatoiV o polemoV kai ge ou toiV sofoiV artoV kai ge ou toiV sunetoiV ploutoV kai ge ou toiV ginwskousin cariV oti kairoV kai apanthma sunanthsetai toiV pasin autoiV

11. verti me alio vidique sub sole nec velocium esse cursum nec fortium bellum nec sapientium panem nec doctorum divitias nec artificum gratiam sed tempus casumque in omnibus

12. oti kai ge ouk egnw o anqrwpoV ton kairon autou wV oi icqueV oi qhreuomenoi en amfiblhstrw kakw kai wV ornea ta qhreuomena en pagidi wV auta pagideuontai oi uioi tou anqrwpou eiV kairon ponhron otan epipesh ep' autouV afnw

12. nescit homo finem suum sed sicut pisces capiuntur hamo et sicut aves conprehenduntur laqueo sic capiuntur homines tempore malo cum eis extemplo supervenerit

13. kai ge touto eidon sofian upo ton hlion kai megalh estin proV me

13. hanc quoque vidi sub sole sapientiam et probavi maximam

14. poliV mikra kai andreV en auth oligoi kai elqh ep' authn basileuV megaV kai kuklwsh authn kai oikodomhsh ep' authn carakaV megalouV

14. civitas parva et pauci in ea viri venit contra eam rex magnus et vallavit eam extruxitque munitiones per gyrum et perfecta est obsidio

15. kai eurh en auth andra penhta sofon kai diaswsei autoV thn polin en th sofia autou kai anqrwpoV ouk emnhsqh sun tou androV tou penhtoV ekeinou

15. inventusque in ea vir pauper et sapiens liberavit urbem per sapientiam suam et nullus deinceps recordatus est hominis illius pauperis

16. kai eipa egw agaqh sofia uper dunamin kai sofia tou penhtoV exoudenwmenh kai logoi autou ouk eisin akouomenoi

16. et dicebam ego meliorem esse sapientiam fortitudine quomodo ergo sapientia pauperis contempta est et verba ejus non sunt audita

17. logoi sofwn en anapausei akouontai uper kraughn exousiazontwn en afrosunaiV

17. verba sapientium audiuntur in silentio plus quam clamor principis inter stultos

18. agaqh sofia uper skeuh polemou kai amartanwn eiV apolesei agaqwsunhn pollhn

18. melior est sapientia quam arma bellica et qui in uno peccaverit multa bona perdet



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Footnotes:

9:1-2 - The author reflects on God's sovereignty over life and death, emphasizing that all, both righteous and wicked, share the same fate. This reminds us of the inevitability of death and the need to live wisely (see also Psalm 73:17 and Romans 14:10-12).

9:3-6 - The realization that the human heart is filled with evil and folly highlights the fragility of life. Death, as a common destiny, makes life's pleasures more precious, inviting reflection on how we spend our days (see also James 4:14 and 1 Peter 1:24).

9:7-10 - The exhortation to enjoy life and take advantage of God's blessings, such as food and joy, emphasizes the importance of living fully, even amid life's uncertainty. Gratitude should be a response to God's generosity (see also Psalm 118:24 and 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

9:11-12 - The race of life does not always favor the swift, nor war the strong. This highlights that circumstances can be unexpected and that wisdom is more valuable than strength, for life is full of surprises (see also Proverbs 21:30 and 1 Corinthians 1:25).

9:13-18 - The story of the city saved by one man's wisdom reveals that even the wise can be ignored. Wisdom, though valuable, is not always recognized, highlighting the fleeting nature of human recognition (see also Matthew 5:14-16 and Luke 16:15).

Verses related to Eclesiastes, 9:

Ecclesiastes chapter 9 meditates on death and the enjoyment of life. How to live fully in the face of the inevitability of death? This provocative text emphasizes the equality of all in the face of death and the importance of taking advantage of life's opportunities. The chapter addresses themes such as chance, the brevity of life and the value of work and relationships. Ecclesiastes 9 encourages us to live with purpose and joy despite uncertainty. Examine with us five biblical passages that speak to the stimulating reflections of this challenging chapter.

Hebrews 9:27: "Likewise, as man is destined to die once and then face judgment," - This verse reaffirms the inevitability of death mentioned in Ecclesiastes 9:2-3.

Colossians 3:23: "Whatever you do, do it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for men," - This exhortation from Paul reflects the advice in Ecclesiastes 9:10 to work with all our might.

1 Corinthians 9:24: "Don't you know that of all those who run in the stadium, only one wins the prize? Run in such a way that you reach the prize." - This analogy from Paul echoes the observation in Ecclesiastes 9:11 about the uncertainty of success.

Proverbs 21:22: "The wise man conquers the city of the mighty and tears down the fortress in which they trust." - This proverb illustrates the power of wisdom mentioned in Ecclesiastes 9:16-18.

James 3:5: "Similarly, the tongue is a small organ of the body, but it boasts of great things. See how a large forest is set on fire by a simple spark." - This passage reflects the theme of Ecclesiastes 9:17-18 about the power of the wise man's words.

FAQ:

What is Ecclesiastes 9's view of death?

The chapter teaches that death comes to everyone, both the righteous and the wicked, and so we should cherish life while we have it. (Ecclesiastes 9:2-6)

How does Ecclesiastes 9 encourage joy in the present?

The Preacher teaches that we should live with gratitude, enjoying God's blessings, for life is short and uncertain. (Ecclesiastes 9:7-9)

What does "the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong" mean?

It means that success depends not only on human effort, but also on circumstances and God's will. (Ecclesiastes 9:11)

Why is wisdom better than strength according to Ecclesiastes 9?

Wisdom can save a city and bring solutions that brute force cannot. Yet it is often despised. (Ecclesiastes 9:16-18)

What does Ecclesiastes 9 teach about the uncertainties of life?

Life is unpredictable, and no one knows what will happen tomorrow. This leads us to depend on God and make the most of each day. (Ecclesiastes 9:12)


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