³ I tried cheering myself with wine,^(A) and embracing folly^(B)—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.

¹² I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. ¹³ That each of them may eat and drink,^(A) and find satisfaction^(B) in all their toil—this is the gift of God.^(C)

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

¹⁸ This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink^(A) and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor^(B) under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot.

¹² For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days^(A) they pass through like a shadow?^(B) Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?