ECCLESIASTES 2:18-26

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The Vanity of Toil

18 I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me,

19 and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity.

20 So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun,

21 because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.

22 What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun?

23 For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.





24 There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God,

25 for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?