Ecclesiastes 2:17-26

Lexham English Bible

¹⁷ So I hated life because the work done under the sun is grievous to me. For everything is vanity and chasing wind!

¹⁸ So I hated all my toil with which I have toiled under the sun, for I must leave it behind to someone who will be after me. ¹⁹ And who knows whether he will be wise or foolish? Yet he will exercise control of all the fruit of my toil with which I toiled wisely under the sun. This also is vanity!

²⁰ So I began to despair^[a] of all the toil with which I toiled under the sun. ²¹ For although a person may toil with great wisdom and skill, he must leave his reward to someone who has not toiled for it. This also is vanity and a great calamity. ²² For what does a person receive for all his toil and in the longing of his heart with which he toils under the sun? ²³ All his days are painful, his labor brings grief, and his heart cannot rest at night. This also is vanity!

It is Best to Simply Enjoy the Passing Pleasures of Life as Reward for Pleasing God

²⁴ There is nothing better for a person than to eat and drink and find delight^[b] in his toil. For I also realized that this is from the hand of God! ²⁵ For who can eat and drink, and who can enjoy life apart from him?^{[c] 26} For to the person who is good in his eyes, he gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and heaping up only to give it to him who is pleasing to him. This also is vanity and chasing wind!