Eclesiastés 2:18

18 Aborrecí también el haberme afanado tanto en esta vida, pues el fruto de tanto afán tendría que dejárselo a mi sucesor,

Eclesiastés 2:18 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 2:18

Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun,
&c.] The great works he made, the houses he built; the vineyards, gardens, and orchards he planted what he got by his labour, his riches and wealth; and what he also got, not by the labour of his hands, but of his mind. Some understand this of the books he wrote; which were a weariness to his body, and fatigue to his mind; and which he might fear some persons would make an ill use of: Aben Ezra interprets it of his labour in this book. All which he had no great regard unto, since it was to be left to another; because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me;
because he could not enjoy the fruits of his labour himself, at least but a very short time: but must be obliged to leave all to another, his possessions, estates, riches, and treasure; which a man cannot carry with him when he dies, but must leave all behind him, to his heirs and successors ^F24. The Targum is,

``because I shall leave it to Rehoboam my son, who shall come after me; and Jeroboam his servant shall come and take ten tribes out of his hands, and possess half the kingdom.''

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FOOTNOTES:

F24 "Rape, congere, aufer, posside, relinquendum est." Martial. Epigr. l. 8. Ep. 43.

Eclesiastés 2:18 In-Context

16 pues nadie se acuerda jamás del sabio ni del necio; con el paso del tiempo todo cae en el olvido, y lo mismo mueren los sabios que los necios.

17 Aborrecí entonces la vida, pues todo cuanto se hace en ella me resultaba repugnante. Realmente, todo es absurdo; ¡es correr tras el viento!

18 Aborrecí también el haberme afanado tanto en esta vida, pues el fruto de tanto afán tendría que dejárselo a mi sucesor,

19 y ¿quién sabe si este sería sabio o necio? Sin embargo, se adueñaría de lo que con tantos afanes y sabiduría logré hacer en esta vida. ¡Y también esto es absurdo!

20 Volví a sentirme descorazonado de haberme afanado tanto en esta vida,