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Ecclesiastes 2:19

WorkWisdomParents and children

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.

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

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.

21 When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and he must give his portion to a man who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great evil.

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

Compare

BSB
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.
KJV
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.
WEB
Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of my labor in which I have labored, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
ASV
And who knoweth whether he will be a wise man or a fool? yet will he have rule over all my labor wherein I have labored, and wherein I have showed myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
DARBY
And who knoweth whether he will be a wise [man] or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour at which I have laboured, and wherein I have been wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
BLB
And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? And he will rule over all my toil that I have toiled, and that I have done wisely, under the sun. This also [is] vapor.
ÅB
Hvem vet om det blir en vis eller en dåre? Og enda skal han råde over alt det jeg har vunnet ved min strev og min visdom under solen; også det er tomhet.
OTB
Og hvem kan si om den personen vil være vis eller tåpelig? Likevel vil de ha myndighet over alle resultatene av mitt strev som jeg har lagt min innsats og dyktighet i under solen. Også dette er forgjeves.
B1930
Hvem vet om det blir en vis eller en dåre? Og enda skal han råde over alt det jeg har vunnet ved min møie og min visdom under solen; også det er tomhet.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Ecclesiastes 3:22

    I have seen that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will come after him?

    Read in context

  • James 3:17

    But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.

    Read in context

  • 1 Kings 14:25–28

    In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, Shishak king of Egypt came up and attacked Jerusalem.

    Read in context

  • Ecclesiastes 9:13

    I have also seen this wisdom under the sun, and it was great to me:

    Read in context

  • James 1:17

    Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.

    Read in context

  • 2 Chronicles 12:9–10

    So King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem and seized the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the royal palace. He took everything, including the gold shields that Solomon had made.

    Read in context

  • Luke 16:8

    The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the sons of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the sons of light.

    Read in context

  • 2 Chronicles 10:13–16

    And the king answered them harshly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders

    Read in context