Ecclesiastes 2:17-26

GOD’S WORD Translation

¹⁷ So I came to hate life because everything done under the sun seemed wrong to me. Everything was pointless. ⌞It was like⌟ trying to catch the wind.

¹⁸ I came to hate everything for which I had worked so hard under the sun, because I will have to leave it to the person who replaces me. ¹⁹ Who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? He will still have control over everything under the sun for which I worked so hard and used my wisdom. Even this is pointless.

²⁰ Then I fell into despair over everything for which I had worked so hard under the sun. ²¹ Here is someone who had worked hard with wisdom, knowledge, and skill. Yet, he must turn over his estate to someone else, who didn’t work for it. Even this is pointless and a terrible tragedy.

²² What do people get from all of their hard work and struggles under the sun? ²³ Their entire life is filled with pain, and their work is unbearable. Even at night their minds don’t rest. Even this is pointless.

With God Even the Simplest Things Have a Point

²⁴ There is nothing better for people to do than to eat, drink, and find satisfaction in their work. I saw that even this comes from the hand of God. ²⁵ Who can eat or enjoy themselves without God? ²⁶ God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to anyone who pleases him. But to the person who continues to sin, he gives the job of gathering and collecting ⌞wealth⌟. The sinner must turn his wealth over to the person who pleases God. Even this is pointless. ⌞It’s like⌟ trying to catch the wind.