Toil Is Meaningless

¹⁷ So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.^{(A) 18} I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me.^{(B) 19} And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish?^(C) Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. ²⁰ So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. ²¹ For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. ²² What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun?^{(D) 23} All their days their work is grief and pain;^(E) even at night their minds do not rest.^(F) This too is meaningless.

²⁴ A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink^(G) and find satisfaction in their own toil.^(H) This too, I see, is from the hand of God,^{(I) 25} for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?^{(J) 26} To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom,^(K) knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth^(L) to hand it over to the one who pleases God.^(M) This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am^(A) the true vine,^(B) and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,^(C) while every branch that does bear fruit^(D) he prunes^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.^{(E) 4} Remain in me, as I also remain in you.^(F) No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;^(G) apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.^{(H) 7} If you remain in me^(I) and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.^(J)

²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ^(A) and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.^(B) The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,^(C) who loved me^(D) and gave himself for me.^(E)