Ecclesiastes 2:17-26

American Standard Version

¹⁷ So I hated life, because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me; for all is vanity and a striving after wind. ¹⁸ And I hated all my labor wherein I labored under the sun, seeing that I must leave it unto the man that shall be after me. ¹⁹ And who knoweth whether he will be a wise man or a fool? yet will he have rule over all my labor wherein I have labored, and wherein I have showed myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity. ²⁰ Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor wherein I had labored under the sun. ²¹ For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with ^[a]skilfulness; yet to a man that hath not labored therein shall he ^[b]leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil. ²² For what hath a man of all his labor, and of the ^[c]striving of his heart, wherein he laboreth under the sun? ²³ For all his days are but sorrows, and his travail is grief; yea, even in the night his heart taketh no rest. This also is vanity. ²⁴ There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God. ²⁵ For who can eat, or who can ^[d]have enjoyment, ^[e]more than I? ²⁶ For to the man that pleaseth him God giveth wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that pleaseth God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.