6. What they loved, hated,and envied has already perished;and there is no reward for them from long agoin everything that is done under the sun.
7. Go and eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a pleasant heart; for God is already pleased with your deeds.
8. At all times may your clothing be white, and let not oil ever lack on your head.
9. Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun; because that is your reward in life and in your toil because you have labored under the sun.
10. Whatever your hands find to do, do with your strength; for there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, the place where you are going.
11. Again I saw under the sun that— the race is not to the swift,nor the battle to the strong,nor food to the wise,nor riches to the intelligent,nor favor to those with knowledge;but time and chance happen to them all.
12. For man does not know his time: Like fish caught in an unfortunate net,like birds caught in a snare,so the sons of men are ensnared at a tragic, yet appointed time,when it suddenly falls on them.
13. I have also seen this wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me:
14. There was a small city with a few men in it; and a great king came and surrounded it, and he built up great siege works against it.
15. But a poor, wise man was found there, and he himself in his wisdom delivered the city, but no one remembered that poor man.
16. Then I said, “Wisdom is better than strength; yet the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.”
17. The words of the wise heard in quietness are betterthan the shouting of a ruler among fools.
18. Wisdom is better than weapons of war,but only one sinner can destroy much that is good.