Ecclesiastes 3:12-22 ▼

12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to be glad and to do good in one’s lifetime;

13 moreover, that every man who eats and drinks and sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God.

14 I know that everything God does will be forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it—God has so worked that men should fear Him.

15 That which is has been already and that which will be has already been, yet God seeks what is pursued.

16 Furthermore, I have seen under the sun that in the place of justice there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness.

17 I said in my heart, “God will judge both the righteous man and the wicked man,” for a time for every matter and for every work is there.

18 I said in my heart concerning the sons of men, “God is testing them in order for them to see that they are but beasts.”

19 For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same fate for each of them. As one dies so dies the other, and they all have the same breath. So there is no advantage for man over beast, for all is vanity.

20 All go to the same place. All came from the dust, and all return to the dust.

21 Who knows that the breath of man ascends upward and the breath of the beast descends downward to the earth?

22 I have seen that nothing is better than that man should be glad in his works, for that is his portion. For who will bring him to see what will occur after him?