15 And I praised joy, for there is no goodness to man under the sun, save [a]to eat and to drink and to rejoice: for this is adjoined to his labor the days of his life that God hath given him under the sun.

16 When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to behold the business that is done on earth, that neither day nor night the eyes of man take sleep,

17 Then I beheld the whole work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is wrought under the sun: for the which man laboreth to seek it, and cannot find it: yea, and though the wise man think to know it, he cannot find it.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 8:15 Read Eccl. 3:22.

15 So I commend the enjoyment of life(A), because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink(B) and be glad.(C) 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(D) and to observe the labor that is done on earth(E)—people getting no sleep day or night— 17 then I saw all that God has done.(F) 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.(G)

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