even if he lives a thousand years twice -- but has not seen goodness. Do not all go to one place?

Though a sinner does evil a hundred [times,] and his [days] are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him.

I know that nothing [is] better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives,

and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor -- it [is] the gift of God.

Here is what I have seen: [It is] good and fitting [for one] to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it [is] his heritage.

For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps [him] busy with the joy of his heart.

So I commended enjoyment, because a man has nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry; for this will remain with him in his labor [all] the days of his life which God gives him under the sun.

In the day of prosperity be joyful, But in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, So that man can find out nothing [that will come] after him.

Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, "I have no pleasure in them":

In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, And the strong men bow down; When the grinders cease because they are few, And those that look through the windows grow dim;

Also they are afraid of height, And of terrors in the way; When the almond tree blossoms, The grasshopper is a burden, And desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home, And the mourners go about the streets.

Oh, that they were wise, [that] they understood this, [That] they would consider their latter end!

A land as dark as darkness [itself,] As the shadow of death, without any order, [Where] even the light [is] like darkness.' "

But man dies and is laid away; Indeed he breathes his last And where [is] he?

He wanders about for bread, [saying,] 'Where [is it?'] He knows that a day of darkness is ready at his hand.

He is driven from light into darkness, And chased out of the world.

Give glory to the LORD your God Before He causes darkness, And before your feet stumble On the dark mountains, And while you are looking for light, He turns it into the shadow of death [And] makes [it] dense darkness.

A day of darkness and gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness, Like the morning [clouds] spread over the mountains. A people [come,] great and strong, The like of whom has never been; Nor will there ever be any [such] after them, Even for many successive generations.

"Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Then Jesus said to them, "A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.

how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.

I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure"; but surely, this also [was] vanity.

I searched in my heart [how] to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what [was] good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.

I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all [kinds] of fruit trees in them.

I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me.

So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labor in which I had toiled; And indeed all [was] vanity and grasping for the wind. [There was] no profit under the sun.

For there is a man whose labor [is] with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; yet he must leave his heritage to a man who has not labored for it. This also [is] vanity and a great evil.

For all his days [are] sorrowful, and his work burdensome; even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.

There is one alone, without companion: He has neither son nor brother. Yet [there is] no end to all his labors, Nor is his eye satisfied with riches. [But he never asks,] "For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?" This also [is] vanity and a grave misfortune.

[There was] no end of all the people over whom he was made king; Yet those who come afterward will not rejoice in him. Surely this also [is] vanity and grasping for the wind.

As he came from his mother's womb, naked shall he return, To go as he came; And he shall take nothing from his labor Which he may carry away in his hand.

And this also [is] a severe evil -- Just exactly as he came, so shall he go. And what profit has he who has labored for the wind?

Since there are many things that increase vanity, How [is] man the better?