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  • Ecclesiastes 9
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Ecclesiastes Outline

      • All have the same outcome (1-3)

      • Enjoy life despite death (4-12)

        • The dead know nothing (5)

        • No activity in the Grave (10)

        • Time and unexpected events (11)

      • Wisdom not always appreciated (13-18)

Ecclesiastes 9:1

Marginal References

  • +De 33:3; 1Sa 2:9; Ps 37:5

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    9/15/1987, p. 25

  • Publications Index

    w87 9/15 25;

    w77 589-590

Ecclesiastes 9:2

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “eventuality.”

Marginal References

  • +Ec 5:15
  • +Ec 8:10

Indexes

  • Publications Index

    w77 590; w73 639; w59 151

Ecclesiastes 9:3

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “eventuality.”

  • *

    Lit., “and after it—​to the dead ones!”

Marginal References

  • +Job 3:17-19; Ec 2:15

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Insight, Volume 2, p. 292

  • Publications Index

    it-2 292;

    w79 3/1 3; w77 590; w73 639; w59 151; w57 695

Ecclesiastes 9:4

Marginal References

  • +Isa 38:19

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Insight, Volume 2, pp. 256-257

    Awake!,

    10/2014, p. 6

    7/8/1998, p. 31

    The Watchtower,

    4/1/1993, p. 29

    5/15/1991, p. 31

  • Publications Index

    it-2 257; g 10/14 6; g98 7/8 31; w93 4/1 29; w91 5/15 31;

    w81 4/15 3; w77 590-591; g77 7/8 6; ad 1069; w65 47; g64 12/8 4; w57 697

Ecclesiastes 9:5

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “are conscious.”

  • *

    Or “wages.”

Marginal References

  • +Ge 3:19; Ro 5:12
  • +Ps 88:10; 115:17; 146:4; Isa 38:18; Joh 11:11
  • +Job 7:9, 10; Ec 2:16

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Enjoy Life Forever!, lesson 29

    The Watchtower,

    8/15/2005, p. 3

    2/15/1997, p. 16

    6/1/1995, pp. 6-7

    5/15/1995, pp. 4-5

    Awake!,

    7/8/1998, p. 31

    5/8/1989, p. 31

  • Publications Index

    lff lesson 29; w05 8/15 3; g98 7/8 31; w97 2/15 16; w95 5/15 4-5; w95 6/1 7; g89 5/8 31;

    w82 3/15 24; w77 590-591; g74 12/8 26; w73 605; w73 639-640; g73 5/8 5; g72 6/8 5-6; g72 11/8 6; g68 9/8 4; g67 6/22 7; w65 47; g64 4/22 14; g63 5/22 6; pa 28; w57 697; rm 169; w31 61

Ecclesiastes 9:6

Marginal References

  • +Ec 9:10

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    6/1/1995, pp. 6-7

  • Publications Index

    w95 6/1 7;

    w77 590-591; ts 70-72; g74 12/8 26; w73 605; w73 639-640; w65 47; w57 697

Ecclesiastes 9:7

Marginal References

  • +De 12:7; Ps 104:15; Ec 2:24
  • +De 16:15; Ac 14:17

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    2/15/1997, p. 17

  • Publications Index

    w97 2/15 17;

    g79 8/22 8-9; w77 591

Ecclesiastes 9:8

Footnotes

  • *

    That is, bright clothing reflecting a joyful mood, not clothing of mourning.

Marginal References

  • +Da 10:2, 3

Indexes

  • Publications Index

    w77 591

Ecclesiastes 9:9

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “portion.”

Marginal References

  • +Pr 5:18
  • +Ec 5:18

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    9/15/2006, pp. 27-28

  • Publications Index

    w06 9/15 27-28;

    g79 8/22 8-9; w77 591; w51 279

Ecclesiastes 9:10

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “Sheol,” that is, the common grave of mankind. See Glossary.

Marginal References

  • +Ps 115:17; 146:3, 4; Isa 38:18

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Bible Questions Answered, articles 66, 189

    Enjoy Life Forever!, lesson 29

    The Watchtower,

    12/15/2015, p. 11

    6/15/2006, p. 5

    9/15/1987, p. 25

  • Publications Index

    ijwbq articles 66, 189; lff lesson 29; w15 12/15 11; w06 6/15 5; w87 9/15 25;

    w82 3/15 24; w81 2/15 25, 29; w78 6/1 8; w77 591; gh 87-88; ts 92-93; w73 231; g72 11/8 6; w67 515; w65 47; w62 510; g62 6/8 27; w57 697; w52 625; gw 10

Ecclesiastes 9:11

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “unforeseen occurrence.”

Marginal References

  • +1Sa 17:50; Ps 33:16
  • +Ec 2:15
  • +2Sa 17:23

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower (Public),

    No. 3 2021 p. 8

    The Watchtower (Study),

    2/2017, p. 29

    Awake!,

    No. 3 2017, p. 6

    8/8/1986, p. 7

    The Watchtower,

    3/1/2009, pp. 4-5

    9/15/2007, p. 5

    9/1/2003, pp. 9-10

    10/15/2001, pp. 13-14

    8/15/1998, pp. 15-16

    9/15/1992, p. 5

    10/15/1991, p. 5

    4/15/1989, p. 28

    12/15/1987, pp. 22-23

    Creator, p. 169

  • Publications Index

    wp21.3 8; w17.02 29; g17.3 6; w09 3/1 4-5; w07 9/15 5; w03 9/1 9-10; w01 10/15 13-14; w98 8/15 15-16; ct 169; w92 9/15 5; w91 10/15 5; w89 4/15 28; w87 12/15 22-23; g86 8/8 7;

    g83 1/8 16; w80 3/1 28; g80 9/8 4; g80 9/22 15-16; w79 3/1 3; g79 4/22 19; w78 6/1 15; w77 591; w77 626; g76 9/22 3; w74 55-56; ts 11-12; g74 7/8 27; w73 288; w64 96; g64 11/8 10; w62 262; g62 10/22 7; w56 249; w53 340

Ecclesiastes 9:12

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “calamity.”

Marginal References

  • +Ec 8:8; Jas 4:13, 14

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    11/1/2005, pp. 3-4

    Awake!,

    8/8/1986, p. 7

  • Publications Index

    w05 11/1 3-4; g86 8/8 7;

    w77 591; w74 55-56

Ecclesiastes 9:13

Indexes

  • Publications Index

    w77 626

Ecclesiastes 9:14

Indexes

  • Publications Index

    w77 626

Ecclesiastes 9:15

Marginal References

  • +Ec 9:11

Indexes

  • Publications Index

    w77 626

Ecclesiastes 9:16

Marginal References

  • +Pr 21:22; 24:5; Ec 7:12, 19; 9:18
  • +Mr 6:3; 1Co 2:8

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    8/1/2000, p. 32

  • Publications Index

    w00 8/1 32;

    w77 626

Ecclesiastes 9:17

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    9/15/1987, p. 25

  • Publications Index

    w87 9/15 25;

    w77 626

Ecclesiastes 9:18

Marginal References

  • +Jos 22:20; 1Co 5:6; Heb 12:15

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Life and Ministry Meeting Workbook,

    1/2024, p. 15

    The Watchtower (Public),

    No. 3 2021 p. 11

  • Publications Index

    mwb24.01 15; wp21.3 11;

    g79 10/22 11; w77 626

Parallel Translations

Click a verse number to display parallel Bible verses.

General

Eccl. 9:1De 33:3; 1Sa 2:9; Ps 37:5
Eccl. 9:2Ec 5:15
Eccl. 9:2Ec 8:10
Eccl. 9:3Job 3:17-19; Ec 2:15
Eccl. 9:4Isa 38:19
Eccl. 9:5Ge 3:19; Ro 5:12
Eccl. 9:5Ps 88:10; 115:17; 146:4; Isa 38:18; Joh 11:11
Eccl. 9:5Job 7:9, 10; Ec 2:16
Eccl. 9:6Ec 9:10
Eccl. 9:7De 12:7; Ps 104:15; Ec 2:24
Eccl. 9:7De 16:15; Ac 14:17
Eccl. 9:8Da 10:2, 3
Eccl. 9:9Pr 5:18
Eccl. 9:9Ec 5:18
Eccl. 9:10Ps 115:17; 146:3, 4; Isa 38:18
Eccl. 9:111Sa 17:50; Ps 33:16
Eccl. 9:11Ec 2:15
Eccl. 9:112Sa 17:23
Eccl. 9:12Ec 8:8; Jas 4:13, 14
Eccl. 9:15Ec 9:11
Eccl. 9:16Pr 21:22; 24:5; Ec 7:12, 19; 9:18
Eccl. 9:16Mr 6:3; 1Co 2:8
Eccl. 9:18Jos 22:20; 1Co 5:6; Heb 12:15
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New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
Ecclesiastes 9:1-18

Ecclesiastes

9 So I took all of this to heart and concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their works, are in the hands of the true God.+ Men are not aware of the love and the hate that took place prior to them. 2 All have the very same outcome,*+ the righteous and the wicked,+ the good and the clean and the unclean, those sacrificing and those not sacrificing. The good one is the same as the sinner; the one who swears an oath is the same as the one who is cautious about swearing an oath. 3 This is a distressing thing that happens under the sun: Because all have the same outcome,*+ the heart of humans is also full of bad; and there is madness in their heart during their life, and then they die!*

4 There is hope for whoever is among the living, because a live dog is better off than a dead lion.+ 5 For the living know* that they will die,+ but the dead know nothing at all,+ nor do they have any more reward,* because all memory of them is forgotten.+ 6 Also, their love and their hate and their jealousy have already perished, and they no longer have any share in what is done under the sun.+

7 Go, eat your food with rejoicing, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart,+ for already the true God has found pleasure in your works.+ 8 May your clothing always be white,* and do not fail to put oil on your head.+ 9 Enjoy life with your beloved wife+ all the days of your futile life, which He has given you under the sun, all the days of your futility, for that is your lot* in life and in your hard work at which you toil under the sun.+ 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your might, for there is no work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the Grave,*+ where you are going.

11 I have seen something further under the sun, that the swift do not always win the race, nor do the mighty win the battle,+ nor do the wise always have the food, nor do the intelligent always have the riches,+ nor do those with knowledge always have success,+ because time and unexpected events* overtake them all. 12 For man does not know his time.+ Just as fish are caught in an evil net and birds are caught in a trap, so the sons of men are ensnared in a time of disaster,* when it suddenly overtakes them.

13 I also observed this about wisdom under the sun—and it impressed me: 14 There was a small city with a few men in it; and a mighty king came against it and surrounded it and built great siegeworks against it. 15 In it was found a poor but wise man, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But no one remembered that poor man.+ 16 And I said to myself: ‘Wisdom is better than mightiness;+ yet a poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heeded.’+

17 Better to heed the calm words of the wise than the shouts of the one ruling among fools.

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but just one sinner can destroy much good.+

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