Ecclesiastes 3:18-22

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

¹⁸ I said to myself with regard to humans that God is testing^[a] them to show that they are but animals.^{(A) 19} For the fate of humans and the fate of animals is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and humans have no advantage over the animals, for all is vanity.^{(B) 20} All go to one place, all are from the dust, and all turn to dust again.^{(C) 21} Who knows whether the human spirit goes upward and the spirit of animals goes downward to the earth?^{(D) 22} So I saw that there is nothing better than that all should enjoy their work, for that is their lot; who can bring them to see what will be after them?^(E)