Ecclesiastes 2:10-11; Ecclesiastes 2:17; Ecclesiastes 2:24-26

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Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

10 Everything I wanted I took - I never said no to myself. I gave in to every impulse, held back nothing. I sucked the marrow of pleasure out of every task - my reward to myself for a hard day's work!
11 Then I took a good look at everything I'd done, looked at all the sweat and hard work. But when I looked, I saw nothing but smoke. Smoke and spitting into the wind. There was nothing to any of it. Nothing.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.

Ecclesiastes 2:17

17 I hate life. As far as I can see, what happens on earth is a bad business. It's smoke - and spitting into the wind.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.

Ecclesiastes 2:24-26

24 The best you can do with your life is have a good time and get by the best you can. The way I see it, that's it - divine fate.
25 Whether we feast or fast, it's up to God.
26 God may give wisdom and knowledge and joy to his favorites, but sinners are assigned a life of hard labor, and end up turning their wages over to God's favorites. Nothing but smoke - and spitting into the wind.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.