Ecclesiastes 3:16-22
English Standard Version
From Dust to Dust
16 Moreover, (A)I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even (B)there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness. 17 I said in my heart, (C)God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is (D)a time for every matter and for every work. 18 I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but (E)beasts. 19 (F)For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity.[a] 20 All go to one place. All are from (G)the dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows whether (H)the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth? 22 So I saw that there is (I)nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for (J)that is his lot. Who can bring him to see (K)what will be after him?
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- Ecclesiastes 3:19 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)
Ecclesiastes 8:10-13
English Standard Version
Those Who Fear God Will Do Well
10 Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of (A)the holy place and were (B)praised[a] in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity.[b] 11 Because (C)the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, (D)the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. 12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and (E)prolongs his life, yet I know that (F)it will be well with (G)those who fear God, because they fear before him. 13 But it will (H)not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like (I)a shadow, because he does not fear before God.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ecclesiastes 8:10 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts forgotten
- Ecclesiastes 8:10 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath”; also twice in verse 14 (see note on 1:2)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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