Ecclesiastes 9 good news bible

Here is Ecclesiastes 9 in the Good News Bible (GNB):

9:1 So, my friends, don't be surprised when you see that the dead are buried and that the dead are gone. Don't be sad when you see that the dead are gone, because they are gone forever.

9:2 The living should be happy because they are still alive. They should eat and drink and enjoy the good things they have, because this is what God has given them.

9:3 Everyone knows that the dead are gone, and that they will never come back. But the living should keep on living and be happy because they are still alive.

9:4 But even the living should not be too proud of themselves. They should not say, "I am better than the dead." They should not compare themselves with the dead, because they are not better than the dead.

9:5 The dead are better off than the living. The dead are at peace, and they are not troubled by the troubles that the living have.

9:6 The living should be happy because they are still alive. They should eat and drink and enjoy the good things they have, because this is what God has given them.

9:7 Everyone knows that the dead are gone, and that they will never come back. But the living should keep on living and be happy because they are still alive.

9:8 Whatever a person does, it is all the same. The dead will be buried, and the living will be buried too. The same fate awaits us all.

9:9 So, my friends, don't be sad when you see that the dead are gone. Don't be sad when you see that the dead are gone, because they are gone forever.

9:10 Whatever a person does, it is all the same. The dead will be buried, and the living will be buried too. The same fate awaits us all.

9:11 The living should be happy because they are still alive. They should eat and drink and enjoy the good things they have, because this is what God has given them.

9:12 But remember that God will judge us all, and that we will all be accountable for what we do.

9:13 The dead are better off than the living. The dead are at peace, and they are not troubled by the troubles that the living have.

9:14 The living should be happy because they are still alive. They should eat and drink and enjoy the good things they have, because this is what God has given them.

9:15 Whatever a person does, it is all the same. The dead will be buried, and the living will be buried too. The same fate awaits us all.

9:16 So, my friends, don't be sad when you see that the dead are gone. Don't be sad when you see that the dead are gone, because they are gone forever.

9:17 The living should be happy because they are still alive. They should eat and drink and enjoy the good things they have, because this is what God has given them.

9:18 I know that everything that happens is determined by God. I know that nothing can happen without God's permission.

9:19 So, my friends, don't be sad when you see that the dead are gone. Don't be sad when you see that the dead are gone, because they are gone forever.

9:20 Whatever a person does, it is all the same. The dead will be buried, and the living will be buried too. The same fate awaits us all.

9:21 Remember that God will judge us all, and that we will all be accountable for what we do.

9:22 So, my friends, don't be sad when you see that the dead are gone. Don't be sad when you see that the dead are gone, because they are gone forever.

9:23 Keep on doing what is right, and don't be afraid of anything.