20 Therefore I [a]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 (A)skill, and then (B)gives his [b]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 (C)all his labor and in [c]his striving with which he labors under the sun? 23 Because all his days his activity is painful and (D)irritating; even at night his [d]mind (E)does not rest. This too is futility.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 2:20 Lit turned aside my heart to despair
  2. Ecclesiastes 2:21 Lit share
  3. Ecclesiastes 2:22 Lit the striving of his heart
  4. Ecclesiastes 2:23 Lit heart

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?(A) 23 All their days their work is grief and pain;(B) even at night their minds do not rest.(C) This too is meaningless.

Read full chapter