I made gardens and parks for myself, and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees;

The Futility of Labor

So I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me.

And who knows whether he will be wise or 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 futility.

Therefore I completely despaired over all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun.

As he came naked from his mother’s womb, so he will return as he came. He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand.