New American Standard Bible 1995

Ecclesiastes 3:17-22

17I saidH559 1to myselfH3820, “2GodH430 will judgeH8199 both the righteousH6662 manH6662 and the wickedH7563 manH7563,” for a 3timeH6256 for everyH3605 4matterH2656 and for everyH3605 deedH4639 is thereH8033.

18I saidH559 5to myselfH3820 concerningH5921 H1700 the sonsH1121 of menH120, “GodH430 has surely testedH1305 them in order for them to seeH7200 that they are but 6beastsH929.”

19 7For the fateH4745 of the sonsH1121 of menH120 and the fateH4745 of beastsH929 8is the sameH259. As oneH2088 diesH4194 soH3651 diesH4194 the otherH2088; indeed, they allH3605 have the sameH259 breathH7307 and thereH369 is noH369 advantageH4195 for manH120 overH4480 beastH929, for allH3605 is 9vanityH1892.

20AllH3605 goH1980 to the sameH259 placeH4725. AllH3605 cameH1961 from the 10dustH6083 and allH3605 returnH7725 to the dustH6083.

21WhoH4310 knowsH3045 that the 11breathH7307 of manH120 ascendsH5927 upwardH4605 and the breathH7307 of the beastH929 descendsH3381 downwardH4295 to the earthH776?

22I have seenH7200 that 12nothingH369 is betterH2896 thanH4480 that manH120 should be happyH8055 in his activitiesH4639, for that is his lotH2506. For whoH4310 will bringH935 him to seeH7200 13whatH4100 will occurH1961 afterH310 him?

Notes

1. Ecclesiastes 3:17 Lit in my heart ↩
2. Ecclesiastes 3:17 Gen 18:25; Ps 96:13; 98:9; Eccl 11:9; Matt 16:27; Rom 2:6-10; 2 Thess 1:6-9 ↩
3. Ecclesiastes 3:17 Eccl 3:1; 8:6 ↩
4. Ecclesiastes 3:17 Or delight ↩
5. Ecclesiastes 3:18 Lit in my heart ↩
6. Ecclesiastes 3:18 Ps 49:12, 20; 73:22 ↩
7. Ecclesiastes 3:19 Ps 49:12; Eccl 9:12 ↩
8. Ecclesiastes 3:19 Lit and they have one fate ↩
9. Ecclesiastes 3:19 Or futility ↩
10. Ecclesiastes 3:20 Gen 3:19; Ps 103:14; Eccl 12:7 ↩
11. Ecclesiastes 3:21 Eccl 12:7 ↩
12. Ecclesiastes 3:22 Eccl 2:24 ↩
13. Ecclesiastes 3:22 Eccl 2:18; 6:12; 8:7; 10:14 ↩