Ecclesiastes 9:8

Joy

⁶ Their love, their hate, and their envy have already vanished, and they will never again have a share in all that is done under the sun.

⁷ Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already approved your works:

Let your garments always be white, and never spare the oil for your head.

⁹ Enjoy life with your beloved wife all the days of the fleeting life that God has given you under the sun—all your fleeting days. For this is your portion in life and in your labor under the sun.

¹⁰ Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

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

Compare

BSB: Let your garments always be white, and never spare the oil for your head.
KJV: Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.
WEB: Let your garments be always white, and don’t let your head lack oil.
ASV: Let thy garments be always white; and let not thy head lack oil.
DARBY: Let thy garments be always white, and let not thy head lack oil.
BLB: At every time, let your garments be white, and let oil not be lacking upon your head.

ÅB: La dine klær alltid være hvite, og la ikke olje fattes på ditt hode!
OTB: Sørg for at dine klær alltid er hvite, og la det ikke mangle olje på ditt hode.
B1930: La dine klær alltid være hvite, og la ikke olje fattes på ditt hode!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Revelation 19:14
The armies of heaven, dressed in fine linen, white and pure, follow Him on white horses.
Read in context
Revelation 3:4–5
But you do have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments, and because they are worthy, they will walk with Me in white.
Read in context
Revelation 19:8
She was given clothing of fine linen, bright and pure.” For the fine linen she wears is the righteous acts of the saints.
Read in context
Revelation 7:13–14
Then one of the elders addressed me: “These in white robes,” he asked, “who are they, and where have they come from?”
Read in context
Revelation 16:15
“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed.”
Read in context
Revelation 7:9
After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
Read in context
2 Samuel 19:24
Then Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, went down to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king had left until the day he returned safely.
Read in context
Daniel 10:3
I ate no rich food, no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I did not anoint myself with oil until the three weeks were completed.
Read in context