The Problem of Injustice and Oppression

16 I saw something else on earth:

In the place of justice, there was wickedness,

and in the place of fairness, there was wickedness.

17 I thought to myself, “God will judge both the righteous and the wicked;

for there is an appropriate time for every activity,

and there is a time of judgment for every deed.

18 I also thought to myself, “It is for the sake of people,

so God can clearly show them that they are like animals.

19 For the fate of humans and the fate of animals are the same:

As one dies, so dies the other; both have the same breath.

There is no advantage for humans over animals,

for both are fleeting.

20 Both go to the same place,

both come from the dust,

and to dust both return.

21 Who really knows if the human spirit ascends upward,

and the animal’s spirit descends into the earth?

22 So I perceived there is nothing better than for people to enjoy their work,

because that is their reward;

for who can show them what the future holds?

4 So I again considered all the oppression that continually occurs on earth.

This is what I saw:

The oppressed were in tears, but no one was comforting them;

no one delivers them from the power of their oppressors.

2 So I considered those who are dead and gone

more fortunate than those who are still alive.

3 But better than both is the one who has not been born

and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth.