18 I said [a]to myself regarding the sons of mankind, “God is testing them in order for them to see that they are as (A)animals, they to themselves.” 19 (B)For the fate of the sons of mankind and the fate of animals [b]is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath, and there is no advantage for mankind over animals, for all is futility. 20 All go to the same place. All came from the (C)dust and all return to the dust. 21 Who knows that the (D)spirit of the sons of mankind ascends upward and the spirit of the animal descends downward to the earth? 22 I have seen that (E)nothing is better than when a person is happy in his activities, for that is his [c]lot. For who will bring him to see (F)what will occur after him?

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 3:18 Lit in my heart
  2. Ecclesiastes 3:19 Lit and they have one fate
  3. Ecclesiastes 3:22 Or reward

18 I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals.(A) 19 Surely the fate of human beings(B) 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. 20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.(C) 21 Who knows if the human spirit rises upward(D) and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”

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

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 3:19 Or spirit