GOD'S WORD Translation GW
New International Version NIV
18 I came to hate everything for which I had worked so hard under the sun, because I will have to leave it to the person who replaces me.
18
I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me.
19 Who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? He will still have control over everything under the sun for which I worked so hard and used my wisdom. Even this is pointless.
19
And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless.
20 Then I fell into despair over everything for which I had worked so hard under the sun.
20
So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun.
21 Here is someone who had worked hard with wisdom, knowledge, and skill. Yet, he must turn over his estate to someone else, who didn't work for it. Even this is pointless and a terrible tragedy.
21
For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.
22 What do people get from all of their hard work and struggles under the sun?
22
What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun?
23 Their entire life is filled with pain, and their work is unbearable. Even at night their minds don't rest. Even this is pointless.
23
All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless.
24 There is nothing better for people to do than to eat, drink, and find satisfaction in their work. I saw that even this comes from the hand of God.
24
A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God,
25 Who can eat or enjoy themselves without God?
25
for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?
26 God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to anyone who pleases him. But to the person who continues to sin, he gives the job of gathering and collecting [wealth]. The sinner must turn his wealth over to the person who pleases God. Even this is pointless. [It's like] trying to catch the wind.
26
To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
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Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.