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Ecclesiastes 2:18

WorkDiscouragement and depression

16 For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.

17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

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.

19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.

20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took 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 walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

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  • Psalms 49:10

    For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.

    Read in context

  • Luke 16:27–28

    Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:

    Read in context

  • Luke 12:20

    But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

    Read in context

  • Ecclesiastes 5:18

    Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.

    Read in context

  • Psalms 17:14

    From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

    Read in context

  • Ecclesiastes 1:13

    And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

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  • Ecclesiastes 2:4–9

    I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:

    Read in context