Ecclesiastes 8:14-16

International Standard Version

Fruitless Righteousness, Fruitful Evil

¹⁴ Here is a pointless thing that happens on earth: A righteous man receives what happens to the wicked, and a wicked man receives what happens to the righteous. I concluded that this, too, is pointless. ¹⁵ So then I recommended enjoyment of life, because it is better on earth for a man to eat, drink, and be happy, since this will stay with him throughout his struggle all the days of his life, which God grants him on earth.

¹⁶ When I dedicated myself to experience wisdom and to observe what is undertaken on earth—even going without sleep day and night—