9. I have seen all this while applying my mind to everything done under the sun: sometimes one person dominates another person to his own harm.
10. Then I saw the wicked buried—they used to come and go from the holy place, but will soon be forgotten in the very city where they did this. This too is meaningless.
11. When the sentence against a crime is not swiftly carried out, the human heart is encouraged to do evil.
12. Even though a sinner might commit a hundred crimes and prolong his days, yet I know that it will be well for those who fear God, for those who revere Him.
13. But it will not go well with the wicked, and he will not lengthen his days like a shadow, because he does not fear God.
14. There is another enigma that occurs upon the earth: there are righteous people who are requited according to the work of the wicked, and there are wicked people who are requited according to the work of the righteous. I said, “This also is meaningless.”
15. So I recommend enjoyment, because there is nothing better for humanity under the sun except to eat, drink and enjoy it. So this joy will accompany him in his labor all the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.
16. When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to observe the activity that is done upon the earth (his eyes not seeing sleep either day or night),
17. then I saw all the work of God. No one can comprehend the work that is done under the sun. Despite all human efforts to seek it out, no one comprehends. Even if a wise person claims to know, he cannot really comprehend.