¹⁷ So I ^(A)hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was ^[a]unhappy to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind.

The Futility of Labor

¹⁸ So I hated ^(B)all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, because I must ^(C)leave it to the man who will come after me. ¹⁹ And who knows whether he will be wise or ^(D)a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is ^(E)futility. ²⁰ Therefore I ^[b]completely despaired over all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun. ²¹ When there is a person who has labored with wisdom, knowledge, and ^(F)skill, and then ^(G)gives his ^[c]legacy to one who has not labored for it; this too is futility and a great evil. ²² For what does a person get in ^(H)all his labor and in ^[d]his striving with which he labors under the sun? ²³ Because all his days his activity is painful and ^(I)irritating; even at night his ^[e]mind ^(J)does not rest. This too is futility.

²⁴ There is ^(K)nothing better for a person than to eat and drink, and show ^[f]himself some good in his trouble. This too I have seen, that it is ^(L)from the hand of God. ²⁵ For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without ^[g]Him? ²⁶ For to a person who is good in His sight, ^(M)He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may ^(N)give to one who is good in God’s sight. This too is ^(O)futility and striving after wind.