Ecclesiastes 9:8-18

Ecclesiastes 9:8-18

[8] Let thy garments  be always  white;  and let thy head  lack  no ointment.  [9] Live  joyfully  with the wife  whom thou lovest  all the days  of the life  of thy vanity,  which he hath given  thee under the sun,  all the days  of thy vanity:  for that is thy portion  in this life,  and in thy labour  which thou takest  under the sun.  [10] Whatsoever thy hand  findeth  to do,  it with thy might;  for there is no work,  nor device,  nor knowledge,  nor wisdom,  in the grave,  whither thou goest.  [11] I returned,  and saw  under the sun,  that the race  is not to the swift,  nor the battle  to the strong,  neither yet bread  to the wise,  nor yet riches  to men of understanding,  nor yet favour  to men of skill;  but time  and chance  happeneth  [12] For man  also knoweth  not his time:  as the fishes  that are taken  in an evil  and as the birds  that are caught  in the snare;  so  are the sons  of men  snared  in an evil  time,  when it falleth  suddenly  [13] This  wisdom  have I seen  also under the sun,  and it seemed great  [14] There was a little  city,  and few  men  within it; and there came  a great  king  against it, and besieged  it, and built  great  bulwarks  against it: [15] Now there was found  in it a poor  wise  man,  and he by his wisdom  delivered  the city;  yet no man  remembered  that same poor  man.  [16] Then said  I, Wisdom  is better  than strength:  nevertheless the poor man's  wisdom  is despised,  and his words  are not heard.  [17] The words  of wise  men are heard  in quiet  more than the cry  of him that ruleth  among fools.  [18] Wisdom  is better  than weapons  of war:  but one  sinner  destroyeth  much  good.