Ecclesiastes 2:17-26
New Living Translation
17 So I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is so troubling. Everything is meaningless—like chasing the wind.
The Futility of Work
18 I came to hate all my hard work here on earth, for I must leave to others everything I have earned. 19 And who can tell whether my successors will be wise or foolish? Yet they will control everything I have gained by my skill and hard work under the sun. How meaningless! 20 So I gave up in despair, questioning the value of all my hard work in this world.
21 Some people work wisely with knowledge and skill, then must leave the fruit of their efforts to someone who hasn’t worked for it. This, too, is meaningless, a great tragedy. 22 So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? 23 Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless.
24 So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him?[a] 26 God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. This, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.
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- 2:25 As in Greek and Syriac versions; Hebrew reads apart from me?
Ecclesiastes 2:17-26
Christian Standard Bible
17 Therefore, I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
The Emptiness of Work
18 I hated all my work that I labored at under the sun(A) because I must leave it to the one who comes after me.(B) 19 And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool?(C) Yet he will take over all my work that I labored at skillfully under the sun. This too is futile. 20 So I began to give myself over[a] to despair concerning all my work that I had labored at under the sun. 21 When there is a person whose work was done with wisdom, knowledge, and skill,(D) and he must give his portion to a person who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great wrong. 22 For what does a person get with all his work and all his efforts(E) that he labors at under the sun? 23 For all his days are filled with grief, and his occupation is sorrowful;(F) even at night, his mind does not rest.(G) This too is futile.
24 There is nothing better for a person than to eat, drink, and enjoy[b][c] his work.(H) I have seen that even this is from God’s hand,(I) 25 because who can eat and who can enjoy life[d] apart from him?[e] 26 For to the person who is pleasing in his sight, he gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy;(J) but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and accumulating in order to give to the one who is pleasing in God’s sight.(K) This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.(L)
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