Whatever exists has already existed; whatever will exist has already existed. God makes human beings seek hidden things. I have seen the wickedness that is under the sun, where there should be justice, and in place of righteousness, wickedness was there. I said in my heart, "God will judge the righteous and the wicked at the right time for every matter and every deed." I said in my heart, "God tests human beings to show them that they are like animals." For the fate of the children of mankind and the fate of animals is the same. The death of one is like the death of the other. The breath is the same for all of them. There is no advantage for mankind over the animals. Everything is meaningless. Everything is going to the same place. Everything comes from the dust, and everything returns to the dust. Who knows whether the spirit of mankind goes upward and the spirit of animals goes downward into the earth? So again I realized that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy his work, for that is his assignment. Who can bring him back to see what happens after him?
