Ecclesiastes 2:17-26
New American Standard Bible
17 So I (A)hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was [a]unhappy to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind.
The Futility of Labor
18 So I hated (B)all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, because I must (C)leave it to the man who will come after me. 19 And who knows whether he will be wise or (D)a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is (E)futility. 20 Therefore I [b]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 (F)skill, and then (G)gives his [c]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 (H)all his labor and in [d]his striving with which he labors under the sun? 23 Because all his days his activity is painful and (I)irritating; even at night his [e]mind (J)does not rest. This too is futility.
24 There is (K)nothing better for a person than to eat and drink, and show [f]himself some good in his trouble. This too I have seen, that it is (L)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, (M)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 (N)give to one who is good in God’s sight. This too is (O)futility and striving after wind.
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- Ecclesiastes 2:17 Lit evil
- Ecclesiastes 2:20 Lit turned aside my heart to despair
- Ecclesiastes 2:21 Lit share
- Ecclesiastes 2:22 Lit the striving of his heart
- Ecclesiastes 2:23 Lit heart
- Ecclesiastes 2:24 Lit his soul
- Ecclesiastes 2:25 As in LXX; Heb me
Ecclesiastes 2:17-26
Common English Bible
17 So I hated life, because the things that happen under the sun were troublesome to me. Definitely, everything is pointless—just wind chasing.
18 I hated the things I worked so hard for here under the sun, because I will have to leave them to someone who comes after me. 19 And who knows whether that one will be wise or foolish? Either way, that person will have control over the results of all my hard work and wisdom here under the sun. That too is pointless. 20 I then gave myself up to despair, as I thought about all my laborious hard work under the sun, 21 because sometimes those who have worked hard with wisdom, knowledge, and skill must leave the results of their hard work as a possession to those who haven’t worked hard for it. This too is pointless—it’s a terrible wrong. 22 I mean, What do people get for all their hard work and struggles under the sun? 23 All their days are pain, and their work is aggravation; even at night, their hearts don’t find rest. This too is pointless.
24 There’s nothing better for human beings than to eat, drink, and experience pleasure in their hard work. I also saw that this is from God’s hand— 25 Who can eat and find enjoyment otherwise?— 26 because God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please God. But to those who are offensive,[a] God gives the task of hoarding and accumulating, but only so as to give it all to those who do please God. This too is pointless and a chasing after wind.
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- Ecclesiastes 2:26 Or to those who sin
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