1There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every matter under heaven—

9What benefit is there for the worker from that in which he labors?

10I have seen the task which God has given the sons of mankind with which to Or troubleoccupy themselves.

11He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, without the possibility that mankind will find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.

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

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

14I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it. And God has so worked, that people will Or be in awe before Himfear Him.

15That which is, is what has already been, and that which will be has already been; and God Or findsseeks what has passed by.

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

17I said Lit in my heartto myself, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked,” for a time for every matter and for every deed I.e., exists with Godis there.

18I said Lit in my heartto myself regarding the sons of mankind, “God is testing them in order for them to see that they are as animals, they to themselves.”

19For the fate of the sons of mankind and the fate of animals Lit and they have one fateis the same. As one dies, so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath, and there is no advantage for mankind over animals, for all is futility.

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

21Who knows that the spirit of the sons of mankind ascends upward and the spirit of the animal descends downward to the earth?

22I have seen that nothing is better than when a person is happy in his activities, for that is his Or rewardlot. For who will bring him to see what will occur after him?