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Ecclesiastes 2:18

WorkDiscouragement and depression

16 For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, just as with the fool, seeing that both will be forgotten in the days to come. Alas, the wise man will die just like the fool!

17 So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

I hated all for which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me.

19 And who knows whether that man will be wise or foolish? Yet he will take over all the labor at which I have worked skillfully under the sun. This too is futile.

20 So my heart began to despair over all the labor that I had done under the sun.

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Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
I hated all for which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me.
KJV
Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
WEB
I hated all my labor in which I labored under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me.
ASV
And I hated all my labor wherein I labored under the sun, seeing that I must leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
DARBY
And I hated all my labour wherewith I had been toiling under the sun, because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
BLB
And I hated all my toil that I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me.
ÅB
Og jeg ble lei av alt mitt strev, som jeg hadde møyet meg med under solen, fordi jeg skulle etterlate det til den som kommer etter meg.
OTB
Jeg avskydde alle tingene jeg hadde strevet for under solen, fordi jeg må etterlate dem til den som kommer etter meg.
B1930
Og jeg blev lei av alt mitt strev, som jeg hadde møiet mig med under solen, fordi jeg skulde efterlate det til den som kommer efter mig.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Psalms 39:6

    Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away.

    Read in context

  • Psalms 49:10

    For it is clear that wise men die, and the foolish and the senseless both perish and leave their wealth to others.

    Read in context

  • Luke 16:27–28

    ‘Then I beg you, father,’ he said, ‘send Lazarus to my father’s house,

    Read in context

  • Luke 12:20

    But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’

    Read in context

  • Ecclesiastes 5:18

    Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of life that God has given him—for this is his lot.

    Read in context

  • Psalms 17:14

    from such men, O LORD, by Your hand— from men of the world whose portion is in this life. May You fill the bellies of Your treasured ones and satisfy their sons, so they leave their abundance to their children.

    Read in context

  • Ecclesiastes 1:13

    And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid upon the sons of men to occupy them!

    Read in context

  • Ecclesiastes 2:4–9

    I expanded my pursuits. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.

    Read in context