Ecclesiastes 3:19-22

New English Translation

¹⁹For the fate of humans^[a] and the fate of animals are the same:
As one dies, so dies the other; both have the same breath.
There is no advantage for humans over animals,
for both are fleeting.
²⁰Both go to the same place,
both come from the dust,
and to dust both return.
²¹Who really knows if the human spirit^[b] ascends upward,
and the animal’s spirit descends into the earth?”
²²So I perceived there is nothing better than for people^[c] to enjoy their work,^[d]
because that is their^[e] reward;
for who can show them what the future holds?^[f]

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Footnotes

Ecclesiastes 3:19 tn Heb “of the sons of man.”
Ecclesiastes 3:21 tn Heb “the spirit of the sons of man.”
Ecclesiastes 3:22 tn Heb “man.”
Ecclesiastes 3:22 tn Heb “his works.”
Ecclesiastes 3:22 tn Heb “his.”
Ecclesiastes 3:22 tn Heb “what will be after him” (cf. KJV, NASB, NIV) or “afterward” (cf. NJPS).

Ecclesiastes 3:19-22

New International Version

¹⁹Surely the fate of human beings^(A) is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath^[a]; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. ²⁰All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.^(B) ²¹Who knows if the human spirit rises upward^(C) and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”

²²So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work,^(D) because that is their lot.^(E) For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?

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