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?

¹⁵ So I commend the enjoyment of life^(A), because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink^(B) and be glad.^(C) Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.

⁷ Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine^(A) with a joyful heart,^(B) for God has already approved what you do.

¹⁹ And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

³² If I fought wild beasts^(A) in Ephesus^(B) with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,