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.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 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
International Standard Version
17 So I hated life, because whatever is done on earth causes me trouble—it’s all pointless, like chasing after the wind.
The Pointlessness of Labor
18 Then I despised everything I had worked for on earth, that is, the things that I will leave to the person who will succeed me. 19 And who knows whether he will be wise or foolish? Either way, he will take possession of everything that I have done on earth, especially where I have excelled. This also is pointless. 20 So I came to be in despair about everything I had accomplished on earth. 21 For sometimes people who strive to obtain wisdom, knowledge, and equity leave everything as an inheritance to a person who never worked for it. This, too, is pointless and greatly troublesome.
22 For what does a person gain from everything that he accomplishes and from his inner life struggles that he undergoes while working on earth? 23 Indeed, all of his days are filled with sorrow, and his struggles bring grief. In fact, his mind remains restless throughout the night. This is pointless, too!
The Central Point of Life
24 The only worthwhile thing for a human being is to eat, drink, and enjoy life’s goodness that he finds in what he accomplishes. This, I observed, is also from the hand of God himself, 25 for who can eat or enjoy life apart from him? 26 After all, to the person who is good in God’s sight, he gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner he gives the troublesome task of acquiring and accumulating in order to leave it to someone who is good in the sight of God. This also is pointless and chasing after the wind.
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