Ecclesiastes 2:17-26

The Voice

¹⁷ So I began to hate life itself because all that is done under the sun is so harsh and difficult. Life—everything about it—is fleeting; it’s like trying to pursue the wind.

¹⁸ So I began to hate all the hard work I had done under the sun because I would eventually have to leave it all to the one who comes after me. ¹⁹ And who knows whether my heir will be wise or foolish? Still he will inherit all the things for which I worked so hard here under the sun, the things for which I became wise. This, too, is fleeting like trying to catch hold of a breath. ²⁰ So I turned these thoughts over in my mind and despaired over how hard I worked under the sun. ²¹ Although someone with wisdom, knowledge, and skill works hard, when he departs this life, he will leave all he has accomplished to another who has done nothing to deserve work’s reward. This, too, is fleeting, and it causes great misery. ²² What exactly do people get out of all their work and all the stresses they put themselves through here under the sun? ²³ For every day is filled with pain and every job has its own problems, and there are nights when the mind doesn’t stop and rest. And once again, this is fleeting. ²⁴ There is nothing better than for people to eat and drink and to see the good in their hard work. These beautiful gifts, I realized, too, come from God’s hand. ²⁵ For who can eat and drink and enjoy the good things if not me? ²⁶ To those who seek to please God, He gives wisdom and knowledge and joyfulness; but to those who are wicked, God keeps them busy harvesting and storing up for those in whom He delights. But even this is fleeting; it’s like trying to embrace the wind.