The Preacher declares what he has worked through in his heart: the righteous, the wise, and all their works are in the hand of God, yet no man knows whether what is before him reflects God's love or hatred. All things come alike to all. One fate comes to the righteous and the wicked, to the clean and unclean, to those who sacrifice and those who do not, to the one who swears an oath and the one who fears to swear. This is an evil among all things done under the sun: that one event comes to everyone. And beyond this: the hearts of men are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
Yet there is hope for the living. A living dog is better than a dead lion. The living know they will die, but the dead know nothing, have no more reward, and their memory is forgotten. Their love, their hatred, their envy, all perished. They have no more portion in anything done under the sun.
From this comes the Preacher's direct command: go, eat your bread with joy and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God now accepts your works. Let your garments always be white and let your head lack no ointment. Live joyfully with the wife you love all the days of your fleeting life, for that is your portion in this life and in your labor under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for there is no work, no device, no knowledge, no wisdom in the grave where you are going.
Then the Preacher returns to the observation: the race is not to the swift, the battle not to the strong, bread not to the wise, riches not to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill, but time and chance happen to them all. Man does not know his time. Like fish taken in a net, like birds caught in a snare, the sons of men are snared when an evil time falls suddenly upon them.
He tells of something that struck him as great wisdom: a small city, besieged by a great king with mighty bulwarks. A poor wise man was found in it, and by his wisdom he delivered the city, yet no one remembered that poor man. Wisdom is better than strength, but the poor man's wisdom was despised and his words unheard. The quiet words of the wise are heard above the shouting of a ruler among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
