Ecclesiastes 2:18-26

The Futility of Labor

18 Thus I hated 1all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must 2leave it to the man who will come after me.
19 And who knows whether he will be a wise man or 3a 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 4vanity.
20 Therefore I completely * despaired of all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun.
21 When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge and 5skill, then he 6gives his legacy to one who has not labored with them. This too is vanity and a great evil.
22 For what does a man get in 7all his labor and in his striving with which he labors under the sun?
23 Because all his days his task is painful and 8grievous; even at night his mind 9does not rest. This too is vanity.
24 There is 10nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is 11from the hand of God.
25 For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without * Him?
26 For to a person who is good in His sight 12He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may 13give to one who is good in God's sight. This too is 14vanity and striving after wind.

Cross References 14

  • 1. Ecclesiastes 1:3; Ecclesiastes 2:11
  • 2. Psalms 39:6; Psalms 49:10
  • 3. 1 Kings 12:13
  • 4. 1 Timothy 6:10
  • 5. Ecclesiastes 4:4
  • 6. Ecclesiastes 2:18
  • 7. Ecclesiastes 1:3; Ecclesiastes 2:11
  • 8. Job 5:7; Job 14:1; Ecclesiastes 1:18; Ecclesiastes 5:17
  • 9. Psalms 127:2
  • 10. Ecclesiastes 2:3; Ecclesiastes 3:12, 13, 22; Ecclesiastes 5:18; Ecclesiastes 6:12; Ecclesiastes 8:15; Ecclesiastes 9:7; Is 5Ecclesiastes 6:12; Luke 12:19; 1 Corinthians 15:32; 1 Timothy 6:17
  • 11. Ecclesiastes 3:13
  • 12. Job 32:8; Proverbs 2:6
  • 13. Job 27:16, 17; Proverbs 13:22
  • 14. Ecclesiastes 1:14

Footnotes 7

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