Chapter 9

1For all this I noted, and I ascertained all this: that the actions of even the righteous and the wise are determined by Hashem. Even love! Even hate! Man knows none of these in advance—

ki et-KOL-ZEH na-TA-tee el li-BEE v'-la-VUR et-KOL-ZEH a-SHER ha-TZAD-dee-KEEM v'-ha-cha-KHA-meem va-a-va-DE-hem b'-yad ha-e-lo-HEEM, gam-a-ha-VA gam-sin-AH AYN yo-DAY-a ha-a-DAM, ha-KOL lif-NE-hem.

אכִּ֣י אֶת־כׇּל־זֶ֞ה נָתַ֤תִּי אֶל־לִבִּי֙ וְלָב֣וּר אֶת־כׇּל־זֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר הַצַּדִּיקִ֧ים וְהַחֲכָמִ֛ים וַעֲבָדֵיהֶ֖ם בְּיַ֣ד הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים גַּֽם־אַהֲבָ֣ה גַם־שִׂנְאָ֗ה אֵ֤ין יוֹדֵ֙עַ֙ הָֽאָדָ֔ם הַכֹּ֖ל לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃

2none! For the same fate is in store for all: for the righteous, and for the wicked; for the good and pure, and for the impure; for him who sacrifices, and for him who does not; for him who is pleasing, and for him who is displeasing; and for him who swears, and for him who shuns oaths.

ha-KOL ka-a-SHER la-KOL mik-REH e-KHAD la-tza-DIK v'-la-ra-SHA la-TOV v'-la-ta-HOR v'-la-ta-ME v'-la-ZO-bay-ACH v'-la-a-SHER e-NE-nu zo-BAY-ACH ka-TOV ka-KHO-tay ha-NISH-ba ka-a-SHER she-vu-AH ya-RAY

בהַכֹּ֞ל כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר לַכֹּ֗ל מִקְרֶ֨ה אֶחָ֜ד לַצַּדִּ֤יק וְלָרָשָׁע֙ לַטּוֹב֙ וְלַטָּה֣וֹר וְלַטָּמֵ֔א וְלַ֨זֹּבֵ֔חַ וְלַאֲשֶׁ֖ר אֵינֶ֣נּוּ זֹבֵ֑חַ כַּטּוֹב֙ כַּֽחֹטֶ֔א הַנִּשְׁבָּ֕ע כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר שְׁבוּעָ֥ה יָרֵֽא׃

3That is the sad thing about all that goes on under the sun: that the same fate is in store for all. (Not only that, but men's hearts are full of sadness, and their minds of madness, while they live; and then—to the dead!)

ZEH ra b'-KOL a-SHER na-a-SA ta-KHAT ha-SHE-mesh, KEE mi-KE-reh e-KHAD la-KOL, v'-GAM lEV b'-NAY ha-a-DAM ma-LE ra v'-ho-LE-lo-T b'-liv-A-vam b'-kha-YE-hem, v'-a-KHA-ra-VU el ha-ME-teem.

גזֶ֣ה ׀ רָ֗ע בְּכֹ֤ל אֲשֶֽׁר־נַעֲשָׂה֙ תַּ֣חַת הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ כִּֽי־מִקְרֶ֥ה אֶחָ֖ד לַכֹּ֑ל וְגַ֣ם לֵ֣ב בְּֽנֵי־הָ֠אָדָ֠ם מָלֵא־רָ֨ע וְהוֹלֵל֤וֹת בִּלְבָבָם֙ בְּחַיֵּיהֶ֔ם וְאַחֲרָ֖יו אֶל־הַמֵּתִֽים׃

4For he who is reckoned among the living has something to look forward to—even a live dog is better than a dead lion—

ki-mee a-SHER (y'-khu-BAR) [y'-khu-BAR] el kol ha-kha-YIM yay-SH bi-ta-KHON, ki-le-KHEV kha-Y HU tov min ha-ar-YEH ha-MAYT.

דכִּי־מִי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר (יבחר) [יְחֻבַּ֔ר] אֶ֥ל כׇּל־הַחַיִּ֖ים יֵ֣שׁ בִּטָּח֑וֹן כִּֽי־לְכֶ֤לֶב חַי֙ ה֣וּא ט֔וֹב מִן־הָאַרְיֵ֖ה הַמֵּֽת׃

5since the living know they will die. But the dead know nothing; they have no more recompense, for even the memory of them has died.

KI ha-CHAY-yim yo-DEE-im she-ya-MU-tu, v'-ha-MAY-tim AY-nam yo-DEE-im me-U-ma, v'-AYN-OD la-HEM sa-KHAR, KI nish-KACH zikh-RAM.

הכִּ֧י הַֽחַיִּ֛ים יוֹדְעִ֖ים שֶׁיָּמֻ֑תוּ וְהַמֵּתִ֞ים אֵינָ֧ם יוֹדְעִ֣ים מְא֗וּמָה וְאֵֽין־ע֤וֹד לָהֶם֙ שָׂכָ֔ר כִּ֥י נִשְׁכַּ֖ח זִכְרָֽם׃

6Their loves, their hates, their jealousies have long since perished; and they have no more share till the end of time in all that goes on under the sun.

gam a-ha-va-TAM gam-sin-a-TAM gam-ki-n'-a-TAM k'-var a-va-DAH v'-khe-LEK AYN-la-HEM od l'-o-LAM b'-KOL a-SHER na-a-SA ta-KHAT ha-SHA-mesh

וגַּ֣ם אַהֲבָתָ֧ם גַּם־שִׂנְאָתָ֛ם גַּם־קִנְאָתָ֖ם כְּבָ֣ר אָבָ֑דָה וְחֵ֨לֶק אֵין־לָהֶ֥ם עוֹד֙ לְעוֹלָ֔ם בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶֽׁר־נַעֲשָׂ֖ה תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃

7Go, eat your bread in gladness, and drink your wine in joy; for your action was long ago approved by Hashem.

LEKH e-KHOL b'-sim-KHA lakh-MEKHA u-she-TEH v'-lev-TOV ye-NEKHA, KI k'-VAR ra-TSA ha-E-lo-HEEM et-ma-a-SE-kha.

זלֵ֣ךְ אֱכֹ֤ל בְּשִׂמְחָה֙ לַחְמֶ֔ךָ וּֽשְׁתֵ֥ה בְלֶב־ט֖וֹב יֵינֶ֑ךָ כִּ֣י כְבָ֔ר רָצָ֥ה הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶֽת־מַעֲשֶֽׂיךָ׃

8Let your clothes always be freshly washed, and your head never lack ointment.

b'-khol AYT yih-YU v'-ga-DE-kha l'-va-NEEM v'-SHE-men al ro-sh'-KHA al yekh-SAR

חבְּכׇל־עֵ֕ת יִהְי֥וּ בְגָדֶ֖יךָ לְבָנִ֑ים וְשֶׁ֖מֶן עַל־רֹאשְׁךָ֥ אַל־יֶחְסָֽר׃

9Enjoy happiness with a woman you love all the fleeting days of life that have been granted to you under the sun—all your fleeting days. For that alone is what you can get out of life and out of the means you acquire under the sun.

RE-e KHA-yim im i-SHA a-SHER a-HAV-ta KOL ye-MEI HE-ve-LE-kha a-SHER na-TAN-le-KHA TA-khat ha-SHE-mesh KOL ye-MEI HE-ve-LE-kha KI HU khe-le-KHA ba-KHA-yim u-va-a-ma-le-KHA a-SHER a-TA a-MEL TA-khat ha-SHA-mesh.

טרְאֵ֨ה חַיִּ֜ים עִם־אִשָּׁ֣ה אֲשֶׁר־אָהַ֗בְתָּ כׇּל־יְמֵי֙ חַיֵּ֣י הֶבְלֶ֔ךָ אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָֽתַן־לְךָ֙ תַּ֣חַת הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֣י הֶבְלֶ֑ךָ כִּ֣י ה֤וּא חֶלְקְךָ֙ בַּֽחַיִּ֔ים וּבַעֲמָ֣לְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּ֥ה עָמֵ֖ל תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃

10Whatever it is in your power to do, do with all your might. For there is no action, no reasoning, no learning, no wisdom in Sheol, where you are going.

KOL a-SHER tim-TZA ya-d'-KHA la-a-SOT b'-kho-KHA-kha a-SEH, KEE AYN ma-a-SEH v'-khe-sh'-BON v'-da-AT v'-kho-KH'-mah b'-sha-OL a-SHER a-TAH ho-LEKH sha-MAH.

יכֹּ֠ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר תִּמְצָ֧א יָֽדְךָ֛ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת בְּכֹחֲךָ֖ עֲשֵׂ֑ה כִּי֩ אֵ֨ין מַעֲשֶׂ֤ה וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן֙ וְדַ֣עַת וְחׇכְמָ֔ה בִּשְׁא֕וֹל אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתָּ֖ה הֹלֵ֥ךְ שָֽׁמָּה׃

11I have further observed under the sun that The race is not won by the swift, Nor the battle by the valiant; Nor is bread won by the wise, Nor wealth by the intelligent, Nor favor by the learned. For the time of mischance comes to all.

sha-V'-ti v'-ra-OH ta-KHAT ha-SHE-mesh, KEE lo la-ka-LEEM ha-ME-rotz v'-lo la-gi-BO-reem ha-mil-cha-MAH, v'-GAM lo la-cha-ka-MEEM LE-khem, v'-GAM lo la-ne-vo-NEEM o-SHER, v'-GAM lo la-yo-de-EEM KHEIN, KEE-et va-PE-ga et-KU-lam.

יאשַׁ֜בְתִּי וְרָאֹ֣ה תַֽחַת־הַשֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ כִּ֣י לֹא֩ לַקַּלִּ֨ים הַמֵּר֜וֹץ וְלֹ֧א לַגִּבּוֹרִ֣ים הַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה וְ֠גַ֠ם לֹ֣א לַחֲכָמִ֥ים לֶ֙חֶם֙ וְגַ֨ם לֹ֤א לַנְּבֹנִים֙ עֹ֔שֶׁר וְגַ֛ם לֹ֥א לַיֹּדְעִ֖ים חֵ֑ן כִּי־עֵ֥ת וָפֶ֖גַע יִקְרֶ֥ה אֶת־כֻּלָּֽם׃

12And a man cannot even know his time. As fishes are enmeshed in a fatal net, and as birds are trapped in a snare, so men are caught at the time of calamity, when it comes upon them without warning.

ki gam lo-ye-DAH ha-A-dam et-i-TO ka-da-GIM she-ne-e-KHA-ZIM bi-m'-tzo-DAH ra-AH v'-ka-tzi-po-REEM ha-a-KHU-ZOT ba-PAKH ka-HEM yu-ka-SHEEM b'-nay ha-a-DAM l'-ET ra-AH k'-she-ti-POL a-LE-hem pit-OM

יבכִּ֡י גַּם֩ לֹֽא־יֵדַ֨ע הָאָדָ֜ם אֶת־עִתּ֗וֹ כַּדָּגִים֙ שֶׁנֶּֽאֱחָזִים֙ בִּמְצוֹדָ֣ה רָעָ֔ה וְכַ֨צִּפֳּרִ֔ים הָאֲחֻז֖וֹת בַּפָּ֑ח כָּהֵ֗ם יֽוּקָשִׁים֙ בְּנֵ֣י הָֽאָדָ֔ם לְעֵ֣ת רָעָ֔ה כְּשֶׁתִּפּ֥וֹל עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם פִּתְאֹֽם׃

13This thing too I observed under the sun about wisdom, and it affected me profoundly.

gam-ZO ra-EE-tee khokh-MAH ta-KHAT ha-SHA-mesh u-g'-do-LAH hee e-LAI

יגגַּם־זֹ֛ה רָאִ֥יתִי חׇכְמָ֖ה תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ וּגְדוֹלָ֥ה הִ֖יא אֵלָֽי׃

14There was a little city, with few men in it; and to it came a great king, who invested it and built mighty siege works against it.

EEr k'-ta-NA va-a-NA-sheeM ba M'-AT u-va-a-E-le-YA me-LEKH ga-DOL v'-sa-VAV o-TA u-va-NAH a-LE-YA m'-tzo-DEEM ge-do-LEEM

ידעִ֣יר קְטַנָּ֔ה וַאֲנָשִׁ֥ים בָּ֖הּ מְעָ֑ט וּבָֽא־אֵלֶ֜יהָ מֶ֤לֶךְ גָּדוֹל֙ וְסָבַ֣ב אֹתָ֔הּ וּבָנָ֥ה עָלֶ֖יהָ מְצוֹדִ֥ים גְּדֹלִֽים׃

15Present in the city was a poor wise man who might have saved it with his wisdom, but nobody thought of that poor man.

u-ma-TZA va-HA ish mis-KEN cha-KHAM u-mi-LAT-hu et ha-IR b'-choch-MA-to v'-a-DAM lo za-KHAR et ha-ISH ha-mis-KEN ha-HU

טווּמָ֣צָא בָ֗הּ אִ֤ישׁ מִסְכֵּן֙ חָכָ֔ם וּמִלַּט־ה֥וּא אֶת־הָעִ֖יר בְּחׇכְמָת֑וֹ וְאָדָם֙ לֹ֣א זָכַ֔ר אֶת־הָאִ֥ישׁ הַמִּסְכֵּ֖ן הַהֽוּא׃

16So I observed: Wisdom is better than valor; but A poor man's wisdom is scorned, And his words are not heeded.

v'-a-MAR-ti a-NEE to-VAH khokh-MAH mi-g'-vu-RAH v'-khokh-MAT ha-mis-KAYN b'-zu-YAH u-d'-va-RAV ay-NAM nish-ma-EEM

טזוְאָמַ֣רְתִּי אָ֔נִי טוֹבָ֥ה חׇכְמָ֖ה מִגְּבוּרָ֑ה וְחׇכְמַ֤ת הַמִּסְכֵּן֙ בְּזוּיָ֔ה וּדְבָרָ֖יו אֵינָ֥ם נִשְׁמָעִֽים׃

17Words spoken softly by wise men are heeded sooner than those shouted by a lord in folly.

di-v'-RAY kha-ka-MEEM b'-na-KHAT nish-ma-IM mi-za-a-KAT mo-SHAYL ba-k'-see-LEEM

יזדִּבְרֵ֣י חֲכָמִ֔ים בְּנַ֖חַת נִשְׁמָעִ֑ים מִזַּעֲקַ֥ת מוֹשֵׁ֖ל בַּכְּסִילִֽים׃

18Wisdom is more valuable than weapons of war, but a single error destroys much of value.

TO-va KHOKH-ma mi-ke-LEI ke-RAV, ve-KHO-tet e-KHAD ye-a-BED TO-va har-BEH.

יחטוֹבָ֥ה חׇכְמָ֖ה מִכְּלֵ֣י קְרָ֑ב וְחוֹטֶ֣א אֶחָ֔ד יְאַבֵּ֖ד טוֹבָ֥ה הַרְבֵּֽה׃