Thereis nothingbetterfor a man[than] to eatand drinkand tellhimselfthat his laboris good.ThisalsoI have seenthat it is from the handof God.
Judahand Israel[were] as numerousas the sandthat is on the seashorein abundance;[they] were eatingand drinkingand rejoicing.
Then he saidto them, "Go,eatof the fat,drinkof the sweet,and sendportionsto him who has nothingprepared;for this dayis holyto our Lord.Do not be grieved,for the joyof the LORDis your strength."
Allthat my eyesdesiredI did not refusethem. I did not withholdmy heartfrom anypleasure,for my heartwas pleasedbecauseof allmy laborand thiswas my rewardfor allmy labor.
For whocan eatand whocan haveenjoymentwithoutHim?
I exploredwith my mind[how] to stimulatemy bodywith winewhile my mindwas guiding[me] wisely,and how to takeholdof folly,untilI could seewhatgoodthere is for the sonsof mento dounderheaventhe fewyearsof their lives.
I have seenthat nothingis betterthanthat manshould be happyin his activities,for that is his lot.For whowill bringhim to seewhatwill occurafterhim?
Throughouthis life[he] alsoeatsin darknesswith greatvexation,sicknessand anger.
For whoknowswhatis goodfor a manduring [his] lifetime,[during] the fewyearsof his futilelife?He will spendthem like a shadow.For whocan tella manwhatwill be afterhim underthe sun?
a manto whomGodhas givenrichesand wealthand honorso that his soullacksnothingof allthat he desires;yet Godhas not empoweredhim to eatfrom them, for a foreignerenjoysthem. Thisis vanityand a severeaffliction.
So I commendedpleasure,for thereis nothinggoodfor a manunderthe sunexceptto eatand to drinkand to be merry,and thiswill standby him in his toils[throughout] the daysof his lifewhichGodhas givenhim underthe sun.
"Come,"[they say], "let us getwine,and let us drinkheavilyof strongdrink;And tomorrowwill be like today,only moreso."
"Ifyou do not listen,and ifyou do not takeit to heartto givehonorto My name,"saysthe LORDof hosts,"then I will sendthe curseupon you and I will curseyour blessings;and indeed,I have cursedthem [already], becauseyou are not taking[it] to heart.
and yetHe did not leaveHimselfwithout witness,in that He did goodand gaveyou rainsfrom heavenand fruitfulseasons,satisfyingyour heartswith foodand gladness."
Iffrom humanmotivesI fought with wild beastsat Ephesus,whatdoes it profitme? Ifthe deadare not raised,LET US EATAND DRINK,FOR TOMORROWWE DIE.
"And you shall rejoicebeforethe LORDyour God,you and your sonsand daughters,your maleand femaleservants,and the Levitewhois within your gates,sincehe hasnoportionor inheritancewith you.
"But you shall eatthem beforethe LORDyour Godin the placewhichthe LORDyour Godwill choose,you and your sonand daughter,and your maleand femaleservants,and the Levitewhois within your gates;and you shall rejoicebeforethe LORDyour Godin allyour undertakings.
Instructthosewho are richin thispresentworldnot to be conceitedorto fix their hopeon the uncertaintyof riches,but on God,who richlysuppliesus with all thingsto enjoy.
