Ecclesiastes 9:8 nasb — Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking on your head.

NASB

"Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking on your head."

— Ecclesiastes 9:8, NASB

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Ecclesiastes 9:8 in Other Translations

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Ecclesiastes 9 — Context

5

For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward, for their memory is forgotten.

6

Indeed their love, their hate and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a share in all that is done under the sun.

7

Go then, eat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works.

8

Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking on your head.

9

Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun.

10

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.

11

I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all.

Ecclesiastes 9:8 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ecclesiastes 9:8 say?
Ecclesiastes 9:8 in the NASB reads: “Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking on your head.”
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 (NASB): “Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking on your head.” 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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