Ecclesiastes 2:23-26
Living Bible
20-23 So I turned in despair from hard work as the answer to my search for satisfaction. For though I spend my life searching for wisdom, knowledge, and skill, I must leave all of it to someone who hasn’t done a day’s work in his life; he inherits all my efforts, free of charge. This is not only foolish but unfair. So what does a man get for all his hard work? Days full of sorrow and grief, and restless, bitter nights. It is all utterly ridiculous.
24-26 So I decided that there was nothing better for a man to do than to enjoy his food and drink and his job. Then I realized that even this pleasure is from the hand of God. For who can eat or enjoy apart from him? For God gives those who please him wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away from him and gives it to those who please him. So here, too, we see an example of foolishly chasing the wind.
Read full chapter
Ecclesiastes 2:23-26
New International Version
23 All their days their work is grief and pain;(A) even at night their minds do not rest.(B) This too is meaningless.
24 A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink(C) and find satisfaction in their own toil.(D) This too, I see, is from the hand of God,(E) 25 for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?(F) 26 To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom,(G) knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth(H) to hand it over to the one who pleases God.(I) This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Ecclesiastes 2:23-26
Living Bible
20-23 So I turned in despair from hard work as the answer to my search for satisfaction. For though I spend my life searching for wisdom, knowledge, and skill, I must leave all of it to someone who hasn’t done a day’s work in his life; he inherits all my efforts, free of charge. This is not only foolish but unfair. So what does a man get for all his hard work? Days full of sorrow and grief, and restless, bitter nights. It is all utterly ridiculous.
24-26 So I decided that there was nothing better for a man to do than to enjoy his food and drink and his job. Then I realized that even this pleasure is from the hand of God. For who can eat or enjoy apart from him? For God gives those who please him wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away from him and gives it to those who please him. So here, too, we see an example of foolishly chasing the wind.
Read full chapter
Ecclesiastes 2:23-25
New International Version
23 All their days their work is grief and pain;(A) even at night their minds do not rest.(B) This too is meaningless.
24 A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink(C) and find satisfaction in their own toil.(D) This too, I see, is from the hand of God,(E) 25 for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?(F)
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.