Although No One Knows the Future, All Share the Same Ultimate Destiny: Death

9:1 So I reflected on all this,¹ attempting to clear² it all up in my mind.
I concluded that: The righteous and the wise, as well as their works, are in the hand of God;
whether he will be loved or hated³—no one knows anything of what lays ahead of him in the future.⁴
9:2 Nevertheless everyone shares the same fate⁵—
the righteous and the wicked,
the good and the bad;⁶
the clean and the unclean,
those who offer sacrifices and those who do not offer sacrifice.
What happens to the good man, also happens to the sinner;⁷
What happens to those who make vows, also happens to those who are afraid to make vows.
9:3 This is the misfortunate thing⁸ about everything that happens on earth:⁹
the same fate awaits everyone;
The heart of all people¹⁰ is full of evil while they are living,
and there is madness in their hearts during their lives—then they die.¹¹

Those Who Are Alive - Even if Living in Poverty - Have an Advantage over the Dead

9:4 But whoever is among¹² the living¹³ has hope;
for a live dog is better than a dead lion.
9:5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead do not know anything;
they have no further reward - and even the memory of them is forgotten.
9:6 The things they loved¹⁴, as well as the things they hated¹⁵ and envied,¹⁶ all perished long ago;
and they no longer have a part in anything that is done on earth.¹⁷

Because Life is Brief, its Joys Should be Cherished

9:7 Go, eat your food¹⁸ with joy,
and drink your wine with a happy heart;
because God has already approved your work.
9:8 Let your clothes always be white,
and do not spare precious ointment from upon your head.
9:9 Enjoy¹⁹ life with your beloved wife²⁰ during all the days of your fleeting²¹ life
which He has given to you on earth²² during all your fleeting days;²³
for that is your reward in life and in your burdensome work²⁴ on earth.²⁵
9:10 Whatever you²⁶ find to do with your hands,²⁷
do it with all your might;
because there is no work nor plan, neither knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol,²⁸
the place where you will eventually go.²⁹

The Benefit of Wisdom Can Be Nullified by Seemingly Chance Events

9:11 Again,³⁰ I observed on the earth³¹ this:
the race is not always won by the swiftest,
the battle is not always won by the strongest;
prosperity³² does not always belong to those who are the wisest,
wealth does not always belong to those who are the most discerning,
nor does success³³ always come to those with the most knowledge—
for time and chance may overcome³⁴ them all.
9:12 Surely, no one³⁵ knows his appointed time!³⁶
Like fish that are caught in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare;
Just like them, all people³⁷ are ensnared³⁸ at an unfortunate³⁹ time that falls upon them suddenly.

The Benefit of Wisdom Can Be Nullified by Other People’s Lack of Responsiveness

9:13 This is what I also observed about wisdom on earth,⁴⁰
and it is a great burden to me:
9:14 Suppose⁴¹ there was a small city with a few men in it;
and a mighty king attacked it, besieging⁴² it and building strong⁴³ siege-works against it;
9:15 However, a poor but wise man lived⁴⁴ in the city,⁴⁵
and he could have delivered⁴⁶ the city by his wisdom;
but no one listened⁴⁷ to that poor man.
9:16 So I concluded that wisdom is better than might;⁴⁸
but a poor man’s wisdom is despised, for no one ever listens⁴⁹ to his advice.⁵⁰

The Benefit of Wisdom Can Be Nullified by Folly

9:17 The words of the wise are heard in quiet,
more than the shouting of a ruler is heard among fools.
9:18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war,
but one sinner can destroy much good.