Eclesiastés 2:19

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!

Eclesiastés 2:19 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 2:19

And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise [man] or a fool?
&c.] The king that should be after him, as the Targum, that should be his successor and heir; and so whether he would make a good or bad use of what was left; whether he would keep and improve it, or squander it away; suggesting, that could he be sure he would be a wise man that should come into his labours, it would be some satisfaction to him that he had laboured, and such a man should have the benefit of it; but as it was a precarious thing what he would be, he could take no pleasure in reviewing his labours he was about to leave. Some think that Solomon here gives a hint of the suspicion he had, that his son Rehoboam, his successor and heir, would turn out a foolish man, as he did; yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and
wherein I have showed myself wise, under the sun;
be he what he will, all will come into his hands; and he will have the power of disposing of all at his pleasure; not only of enjoying it, but of changing and altering things; and perhaps greatly for the worse, if he does not entirely destroy what has been wrought with so much care and industry, toil and labour, wisdom and prudence; the thought of all which was afflicting and distressing: and therefore he adds, This [is] also vanity;
and shows there is no happiness in all that a man does, has, or enjoys; and this circumstance, before related, adds to his vexation and unhappiness.

Eclesiastés 2:19 In-Context

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,

21 pues hay quienes ponen a trabajar su sabiduría y sus conocimientos y experiencia, para luego entregarle todos sus bienes a quien jamás movió un dedo. ¡Y también esto es absurdo, y un mal enorme!