12 (A)Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that (B)it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him. 13 But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

14 There is a vanity which occurs on earth, that there are just men to whom it (C)happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the (D)righteous. I said that this also is vanity.

15 (E)So I commended enjoyment, because a man has nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry; for this will remain with him in his labor all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun.

16 When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that is done on earth, even though one sees no sleep day or night, 17 then I saw all the work of God, that (F)a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. For though a man labors to discover it, yet he will not find it; moreover, though a wise man attempts to know it, he will not be able to find it.

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12 Although a wicked person who commits a hundred crimes may live a long time, I know that it will go better(A) with those who fear God,(B) who are reverent before him.(C) 13 Yet because the wicked do not fear God,(D) it will not go well with them, and their days(E) will not lengthen like a shadow.

14 There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve.(F) This too, I say, is meaningless.(G) 15 So I commend the enjoyment of life(H), because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink(I) and be glad.(J) Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.

16 When I applied my mind to know wisdom(K) and to observe the labor that is done on earth(L)—people getting no sleep day or night— 17 then I saw all that God has done.(M) No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can discover its meaning. Even if the wise claim they know, they cannot really comprehend it.(N)

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