Ecclesiastes 9:10

What does Ecclesiastes 9:10 mean?

A plain-English look at Ecclesiastes 9:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, whither thou goest.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, whither thou goest.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Whatever comes to your hand to do with all your power, do it because there is no work, or thought, or knowledge, or wisdom in the place of the dead to which you are going.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

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.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Whatsoever thy hand is able to do, do it earnestly: for neither work, nor reason, nor wisdom, nor knowledge shall be in hell, whither thou art hastening.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Whatever thy hand findeth to do, do with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, whither thou goest.

Context

v.9Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of thy life of vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all thy days of vanity: for that is thy portion in life, and in thy labor wherein thou laborest under the sun.

v.10This passage

v.11I 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 favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • John 9:4

    We must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

  • Numbers 13:30

    And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

  • Ecclesiastes 11:3

    If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth; and if a tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there shall it be.

  • Romans 12:11

    in diligence not slothful; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

  • Nehemiah 4:6

    So we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto half the height thereof: for the people had a mind to work.

  • Nehemiah 2:12

    And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God put into my heart to do for Jerusalem; neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.

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