Ecclesiastes 9:2

But all things in the future remain uncertain, because all things happen equally to the just and to the impious, to the good and to the bad, to the pure and to the impure, to those who offer sacrifices and to those who despise sacrifices. As the good are, so also are sinners. As those who commit perjury are, so also are those who swear to the truth.

Catholic Public Domain Version

In The King James Version

All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

In Context

1I have drawn all these things through my heart, so that I might carefully understand. There are just men as well as wise men, and their works are in the hand of God. And yet a man does not know so much as whether he is worthy of love or of hatred.

3This is a very great burden among all things that are done under the sun: that the same things happen to everyone. And when the hearts of the sons of men are filled with malice and contempt in their lives, afterwards they shall be dragged down to hell.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 9

Cross References

Genesis 24:3so that I may make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live.

Joshua 2:17And they said to her: “We shall be innocent of this oath, to which you have sworn us,

Job 9:22There is one thing that I have said: both the innocent and the impious he consumes.

Job 21:26And yet they will sleep together in the dust, and worms will cover them.

Ecclesiastes 2:14The eyes of a wise man are in his head. A foolish man walks in darkness. Yet I learned that one would pass away like the other.

Ecclesiastes 6:6Even if he were to live for two thousand years, and yet not thoroughly enjoy what is good, does not each one hurry on to the same place?

Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 9:2-4

Mysteries in Providence. 1 For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them. 2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath. 3 This… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

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