Disappointed with Life

^[16] And I saw something else under the sun: In the place of judgment-wickedness was there, in the place of justice-wickedness was there. ^[17] I said to myself, “God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed.” ^[18] I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. ^[19] Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; 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. ^[21] Who knows if the human spirit rises upward 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, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them? ^[1] Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed- and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors- and they have no comforter. ^[2] And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive. ^[3] But better than both is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun. ^[4] And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. ^[5] Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves. ^[6] Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind. ^[7] Again I saw something meaningless under the sun: ^[8] There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless- a miserable business! ^[9] Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: ^[10] If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. ^[11] Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? ^[12] Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.