So all of this I laid to my heart, to make it clear, and I concluded that the righteous and the wise, and all that they do, are in the hand of God, but no one knows whether love or hate awaits him. Everyone has the same fate. The same fate awaits righteous people and wicked, the good, the clean and the unclean, and the one who sacrifices and the one who does not sacrifice. As good people will die, so also will the sinner. As the one who swears will die, so also will the man who fears to make an oath. There is an evil fate for everything that is done under the sun, the same event happens to them all. The hearts of human beings are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live. So after that they go to the dead. Whoever is joined with all the living has hope—even a live dog is better than a dead lion. For those who are alive know they will die, but the dead do not know anything. They no longer have any reward because their memory is forgotten. Their love, hatred, and envy have vanished long ago. They will never have a place again in anything done under the sun. Go your way, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of your deeds. Let your clothes be always white and your head anointed with oil. Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your reward in life for your difficult work that you labored in under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, work at it with your strength, because there is no work or explanation or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, where you are going.
