Ecclesiastes 8:14-17

English Standard Version

Man Cannot Know God's Ways

¹⁴ There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people ^(A)to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people ^(B)to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. ¹⁵ And I commend joy, for man ^(C)has nothing better under the sun but to ^(D)eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.

¹⁶ When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see ^(E)the business that is done on earth, how neither ^(F)day nor night do one's eyes see sleep, ¹⁷ then I saw all the work of God, that ^(G)man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, ^(H)he cannot find it out.