Ecclesiastes 9:2

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.

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 is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

4 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
It is the same for all: There is a common fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner; as it is for the one who makes a vow, so it is for the one who refuses to take a vow.
KJV
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.
WEB
All things come alike to all. There is one event to the righteous and to the wicked; to the good, to the clean, to the unclean, to him who sacrifices, and to him who doesn’t sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; he who takes an oath, as he who fears an oath.
ASV
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.
DARBY
All things [come] alike to all: 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; he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.
BLB
All [is] as for all: One event [is] to the righteous and to the wicked, to the good [and to the bad], and to the clean and to the unclean, and to the one sacrificing and to the one who is not sacrificing; as [is] the good one, so [is] the sinner, the one swearing an oath as the one refusing an oath.
ÅB
Det går dem[^2] i alt slik som alle andre; det samme hender den rettferdige og den ugudelige, den gode og rene og den urene, den som ofrer og den som ikke ofrer; den gode går det som synderen, den som sverger, går det som den som er redd for å sverge.
OTB
Alle deler den samme skjebnen: de rettferdige og de onde, de gode og de dårlige, de rene og de urene, de som ofrer og de som ikke gjør det. Som det er med de gode, så er det med synderen; den som sverger en ed er som den som frykter å sverge.
B1930
Det går dem i alt likesom alle andre; det samme hender den rettferdige og den ugudelige, den gode og rene og den urene, den som ofrer og den som ikke ofrer; den gode går det som synderen, den som sverger, går det som den som er redd for å sverge. / < de rettferdige og vise.>

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Malachi 3:18

    Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

    Read in context
  • Ecclesiastes 2:14–16

    The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.

    Read in context
  • Job 9:22

    This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 73:3

    For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

    Read in context
  • Malachi 3:5

    And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

    Read in context
  • Malachi 3:15

    And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.

    Read in context
  • Ecclesiastes 7:2

    It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.

    Read in context
  • Job 21:7–34

    Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?

    Read in context