Ecclesiastes 9:8 akjv — Let your garments be always white; and let your head lack no ointment.

American King James Version

"Let your garments be always white; and let your head lack no ointment. "

— Ecclesiastes 9:8, American King James Version

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Ecclesiastes 9:8 in Other Translations

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Ecclesiastes 9 — Context

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.

6

Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun. ¶

7

Go your way, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God now accepts your works.

8

Let your garments be always white; and let your head lack no ointment.

9

Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of the life of your vanity, which he has given you under the sun, all the days of your vanity: for that is your portion in this life, and in your labor which you take under the sun.

10

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, where you go. ¶

11

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happens to them all.

Ecclesiastes 9:8 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ecclesiastes 9:8 say?
Ecclesiastes 9:8 in the American King James Version reads: “Let your garments be always white; and let your head lack no ointment. ”
Where is Ecclesiastes 9:8 in the Bible?
Ecclesiastes 9:8 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 9, verse 8.
Who wrote Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes is traditionally attributed to Solomon (traditional; identified as "the Preacher, son of David"). It was written c. 940 BC.
What is the book of Ecclesiastes about?
Ecclesiastes is a candid meditation on life "under the sun" — its pleasures, its pains, and its apparent vanity. The Preacher tries wisdom, wealth, work, and pleasure, finds them all empty without God, and concludes that fearing God and keeping his commandments is the whole of man.
What are the major themes of Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes explores themes including Vanity, Time, Meaning, Fear of God, Mortality. These themes shape the meaning and context of Ecclesiastes 9:8.
What translation should I read Ecclesiastes 9:8 in?
Ecclesiastes 9:8 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Ecclesiastes 9:8?
Ecclesiastes 9:8 reads (AKJV): “Let your garments be always white; and let your head lack no ointment. ” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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