What profit remains for the worker from his toil? I have seen the painful labor and exertion and miserable business which The Creator has given to the sons of men with which to exercise and busy themselves.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men’s hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but The Creator alone can satisfy], yet so that men cannot find out what The Creator has done from the beginning to the end.
I know that there is nothing better for them than to be glad and to get and do good as long as they live; and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor–it is the gift from the Creator.
I know that whatever The Creator does, it endures forever; nothing can be added to it nor anything taken from it. And The Creator does it so that men will [reverently] fear Him [revere and worship Him, knowing that He is].
That which is now already has been, and that which is to be already has been; and The Creator seeks that which has passed by [so that history repeats itself].
Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice there was wickedness, and that in the place of righteousness wickedness was there also.
I said in my heart, The Creator will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time [appointed] for every matter and purpose and for every work.
I said in my heart regarding the subject of the sons of men, The Creator is trying (separating and sifting) them, that they may see that by themselves [under the sun, without The Creator] they are but like beasts.
Ha! There you have it! There you have the reason for all the horrors taking place in our midst right now. In one last paragraph of the quote: The Creator is trying (separating and sifting) them, that they may see that by themselves [under the sun, without The Creator] they are but like beasts.
The question I must consider is, ‘Where is the Creator in my life?’ ‘Who controls me?’ Who created me?’ Who is my higher power? ‘Myself?’ ‘The Universe?’ ‘Buddha?’ ‘My belief?’ ‘My church?’ ‘My pastor?’ ‘The hero/heroin I admire?’ ‘The powers to be in this world?’ ‘Knowledge?’ ‘My University?’ ‘Who? What controls me?’