Ecclesiastes 9:3

Death and loss Sin

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.

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.

⁵ For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

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

Compare

BSB: This is an evil in everything that is done under the sun: There is one fate for everyone. Furthermore, the hearts of men are full of evil and madness while they are alive, and afterward they join the dead.
KJV: 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.
WEB: This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event to all. Yes 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.
ASV: This is an evil in all that is 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.
DARBY: This is an evil among all that is done under the sun, that one thing befalleth all: yea, also the heart of the children of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live; and after that, [they have to go] to the dead.
BLB: This [is] an evil in all that is done under the sun: That one event [is] to all, and also [that] the heart of the sons of man is full of evil; and madness [is] in their hearts while they live, and afterward to the dead.

ÅB: Det er en ond ting ved alt det som hender under solen, at det går alle likedan, og så er også menneskenes hjerte fullt av det som ondt er, og det er uforstand i deres hjerte, så lenge de lever, og siden går det avsted til de døde;
OTB: Dette er det onde i alt som skjer under solen: den samme skjebnen rammer alle. Dessuten er menneskenes hjerter fylt med ondskap, og galskap bor i deres hjerter mens de lever, og etterpå slutter de seg til de døde.
B1930: Det er en ond ting ved alt det som hender under solen, at det går alle likedan, og så er også menneskenes hjerte fullt av det som ondt er, og det er uforstand i deres hjerte, så lenge de lever, og siden går det avsted til de døde;

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Read in context
Ecclesiastes 8:11
Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
Read in context
Ecclesiastes 1:17
And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
Read in context
Job 15:16
How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?
Read in context
Titus 3:3
For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
Read in context
Psalms 51:5
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Read in context
Romans 1:29–31
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Read in context
Luke 6:11
And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.
Read in context