The Futility of Labor

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

24 There is (J)nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and [f]tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is (K)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 (L)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 (M)give to one who is good in God’s sight. This too is (N)vanity and striving after wind.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 2:19 Lit dominion
  2. Ecclesiastes 2:20 Lit turned aside my heart to despair
  3. Ecclesiastes 2:21 Lit share
  4. Ecclesiastes 2:22 Lit the striving of his heart
  5. Ecclesiastes 2:23 Lit heart
  6. Ecclesiastes 2:24 Lit cause his soul to see good in his labor
  7. Ecclesiastes 2:25 So Gr; Heb me