Ecclesiastes 9 offers a quiet, sober reflection on life, death, and what we’re meant to do with the days given to us. It begins with a recognition that all people—both the righteous and the wicked, the good and the evil, the clean and the unclean—are in the hand of God. Yet we cannot always tell what awaits us. Whether it will be love or hate, joy or sorrow, no one knows what lies ahead. All share a common destiny, and that destiny is death. This reality unites us more than any other, and Ecclesiastes 9 asks us to consider that fact not with fear, but with honesty.
There is one event that happens to all. The righteous and the wicked, the good and the sinner, those who swear oaths and those who avoid them—none are exempt. Death does not discriminate. This, the Preacher says, is an evil under the sun. It troubles the heart to see that life’s outcomes are not always fair, that the same end comes to all, no matter their choices. But it also brings clarity. While we live, there is still hope. A living dog is better than a dead lion. However mighty or respected one might have been, once they are gone, they can no longer participate in life’s opportunities. The living still have time to act, to feel, to change, and to enjoy.
Those who are dead know nothing, the Preacher says. Their love, their hate, and their envy have perished. They no longer have a share in anything that is done under the sun. These are difficult thoughts, yet they invite us not to despair but to pay attention. Life is brief and uncertain, but it is also full of possibility. Because of this, the Preacher encourages us to embrace what we are given. Eat your bread with joy. Drink your wine with a merry heart. These are not suggestions for reckless living but reminders that even small pleasures are gifts from God. Let your garments always be white, he says, and don’t lack oil on your head. These are images of peace, dignity, and readiness.
Enjoy life with the person you love, all the days of your fleeting life. That is your portion, your gift, under the sun. In this world of labor and limitations, relationships matter. Moments of joy matter. This is not a call to build monuments or chase great fame, but to recognize the beauty in simple, faithful living. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might. The realm of the dead holds no work, no planning, no knowledge, no wisdom. While breath remains in us, we are called to live with energy and purpose, even in small things.
Ecclesiastes 9 also acknowledges that success is not always determined by wisdom or effort. The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. Bread does not always go to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding. Time and chance happen to them all. We may plan, we may strive, but there is always unpredictability. A person does not know their time. Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds trapped in a snare, people are caught by sudden misfortune. This doesn’t mean that striving is meaningless, but it reminds us that control is limited. Humility is needed when we think about our lives and futures.
Even so, the Preacher sees value in wisdom. He tells a story of a small city under siege, where a poor wise man delivers the city, though his name is forgotten. It’s a quiet story, but it holds a powerful truth. Wisdom is better than strength, even when it goes unnoticed. The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. One sinner may destroy much good, but still, wisdom has its place. It may not always be rewarded. It may be forgotten or overlooked. But it carries a strength that power cannot replace.
Ecclesiastes 9 is a gentle but firm reminder that we are all moving toward the same end. In light of that truth, we’re invited to live with care and gratitude. The chapter doesn’t offer false hope or pretend that everything works out perfectly. Instead, it brings our focus to what is real—our daily work, our small joys, our relationships, and our moments of delight. These are not insignificant. They are the portion we are given, and in them we can find deep meaning.
This message echoes Psalm 90:12, which says, “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” It also resonates with James 4:14, where life is described as a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. We are here for a brief time, but in that time, we can choose joy, love, and faithfulness. Ecclesiastes 9 does not deny the reality of sorrow or injustice, but it encourages us to take hold of the present, to live wisely, and to be thankful for every breath we receive.