Ecclesiastes 2:20-26

English Standard Version

²⁰ So I ^(A)turned about and gave my heart up to despair ^(B)over all the toil of my labors under the sun, ²¹ because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. ²² What has a man from ^(C)all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? ²³ For ^(D)all his days are full of sorrow, and his ^(E)work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.

^24 (F)There is nothing better for a person than that he should ^(G)eat and drink and find enjoyment^[a] in his toil. This also, I saw, is ^(H)from the hand of God, ²⁵ for apart from him^[b] who can eat or who can have enjoyment? ²⁶ For to the one who pleases him ^(I)God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given ^(J)the business of gathering and collecting, ^(K)only to give to one who pleases God. ^(L)This also is vanity and a striving after wind.