ForallthisI consideredinmy hearteven to declareallthis, thatthe righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the handof God: nomanknowetheitherloveorhatred by all that is beforethem. All things come aliketo all: there is oneeventto the righteous, and to the wicked; to the goodand to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificethnot: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that fearethan oath. This is an evilamong all things thatare doneunderthe sun, that there is oneeventunto all: yea, alsothe heartof the sonsof menis fullof evil, and madness is in their heartwhile they live, and afterthat they go tothe dead. Forto himthatis joinedtoallthe livingthere ishope: fora livingdogis betterthana deadlion. Forthe livingknowthat they shall die: but the deadknownotany thing, neitherhave they any morea reward; forthe memoryof them is forgotten. Alsotheir love, andtheir hatred, andtheir envy, is nowperished; neitherhave they any morea portionforeverin any thing thatis doneunderthe sun. Gothy way, eatthy breadwith joy, and drinkthy winewith a merryheart; forGodnowaccepteththy works. Let thy garmentsbealwayswhite; and let thy headlacknoointment. Live joyfullywiththe wifewhomthou lovestallthe daysof the lifeof thy vanity, whichhe hath giventhee underthe sun, allthe daysof thy vanity: forthat is thy portionin this life, and in thy laborwhichthoutakestunderthe sun. Whatsoeverthy handfindethto do, do it with thy might; for there is nowork, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whitherthougoest. I returned, and sawunderthe sun, thatthe race is notto the swift, northe battleto the strong, neitheryetbreadto the wise, noryetrichesto men of understanding, noryetfavorto men of skill; buttimeand chancehappenethto them all. Formanalsoknowethnothis time: as the fishesthat are takenin an evilnet, and as the birdsthat are caughtin the snare; so are the sonsof mensnaredin an eviltime, when it fallethsuddenlyuponthem. Thiswisdomhave I seenalsounderthe sun, and it seemed greatuntome: There was a littlecity, and fewmenwithin it; and there camea greatkingagainstit, and besiegedit, and builtgreatbulwarksagainstit: Now there was foundin it a poorwiseman, and heby his wisdomdeliveredthe city; yet nomanrememberedthat samepoorman. Then saidI, Wisdom is betterthan strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his wordsare notheard. The wordsof wise men are heardin quietmore than the cryof him that rulethamong fools. Wisdom is betterthan weaponsof war: but onesinnerdestroyethmuchgood.