The Bible in Basic English BBE
New International Version NIV
18 Hate had I for all my work which I had done, because the man who comes after me will have its fruits.
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 And who is to say if that man will be wise or foolish? But he will have power over all my work which I have done and in which I have been wise under the sun. This again is to no purpose.
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 So my mind was turned to grief for all the trouble I had taken and all my wisdom under the sun.
20
So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun.
21 Because there is a man whose work has been done with wisdom, with knowledge, and with an expert hand; but one who has done nothing for it will have it for his heritage. This again is to no purpose and a great evil.
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 does a man get for all his work, and for the weight of care with which he has done his work under the sun?
22
What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun?
23 All his days are sorrow, and his work is full of grief. Even in the night his heart has no rest. This again is to no purpose.
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 a man than taking meat and drink, and having delight in his work. This again I saw was from the hand of God.
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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 may take food or have pleasure without him?
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for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?
26 To the man with whom he is pleased, God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the work of getting goods together and storing up wealth, to give to him in whom God has pleasure. This again is to no purpose and desire for 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.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.
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.