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13 Evil people don’t respect God, so they will not get good things or live long lives. Their lives will not be like the shadows that become longer and longer as the sun goes down.

14 There is something else that happens on earth that does not seem fair. Bad things should happen to bad people, and good things should happen to good people. But sometimes bad things happen to good people, and good things happen to bad people. This is not fair. 15 So I decided it was more important to enjoy life because the best thing people can do in this life[a] is to eat, drink, and enjoy life. At least that will help people enjoy the hard work God gave them to do during their life on earth.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 8:15 in this life Literally, “under the sun.” Also in verse 16 and 9:3, 9, 11, 13.

13 Yet because the wicked do not fear God,(A) it will not go well with them, and their days(B) will not lengthen like a shadow.

14 There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve.(C) This too, I say, is meaningless.(D) 15 So I commend the enjoyment of life(E), because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink(F) and be glad.(G) Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.

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