5. For the living know that they die, and the dead know not anything, and there is no more to them a reward, for their remembrance hath been forgotten.
6. Their love also, their hatred also, their envy also, hath already perished, and they have no more a portion to the age in all that hath been done under the sun.
7. Go, eat with joy thy bread, and drink with a glad heart thy wine, for already hath God been pleased with thy works.
8. At all times let thy garments be white, and let not perfume be lacking on thy head.
9. See life with the wife whom thou hast loved, all the days of the life of thy vanity, that He hath given to thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity, for it [is] thy portion in life, even of thy labour that thou art labouring at under the sun.
10. All that thy hand findeth to do, with thy power do, for there is no work, and device, and knowledge, and wisdom in Sheol whither thou art going.
11. I have turned so as to see under the sun, that not to the swift [is] the race, nor to the mighty the battle, nor even to the wise bread, nor even to the intelligent wealth, nor even to the skilful grace, for time and chance happen withthem all.
12. For even man knoweth not his time; as fish that are taken hold of by an evil net, and as birds that are taken hold of by a snare, like these [are] the sons of man snared at an evil time, when it falleth upon them suddenly.
13. This also I have seen: wisdom under the sun, and it is great to me.
14. A little city, and few men in it, and a great king hath come unto it, and hath surrounded it, and hath built against it great bulwarks;
15. and there hath been found in it a poor wise man, and he hath delivered the city by his wisdom, and men have not remembered that poor man!
16. And I said, `Better [is] wisdom than might, and the wisdom of the poor is despised, and his words are not heard.' --
17. The words of the wise in quiet are heard, More than the cry of a ruler over fools.