Ecclesiastes 3

9 What advantage does the worker gain from the things at which he toils? 10 I have seen the distraction God has given human beings to occupy them. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also placed the span of time in their hearts, so that a person cannot discover the work God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good during life. 13 Indeed, whenever a person eats, drinks, and enjoys good in all his toil, this is God’s gift. 14 I know that everything God has done will last forever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing can be taken from it. God has acted so that people will fear him. 15 What exists has already existed, and what will happen has already happened. God will seek out the one being pursued.

16 I also saw under the sun that the ungodly person was in the place of judgment, and the ungodly person was in the place of the righteous. 17 I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the ungodly, for there is a time for every matter and for every work.” 18 There I said in my heart concerning human speech, “God will judge them and show them that they are beasts.” 19 For the outcome of human beings and the outcome of beasts is the same outcome. As one dies, so the other dies, and all have one breath. A person has no advantage over a beast, because everything is futile. 20 All go to one place. All came from dust, and all return to dust. 21 Who knows whether the human spirit rises upward and whether the spirit of the beast descends into the earth? 22 I saw that there is nothing better than for a person to rejoice in his works, because this is his portion. Who can bring him to see what will happen after him?