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Ecclesiastes 2:19

WorkWisdomParents and children

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.

18 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.

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.

21 For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity 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

    Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

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  • James 3:17

    But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

    Read in context

  • 1 Kings 14:25–28

    And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem:

    Read in context

  • Ecclesiastes 9:13

    This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me:

    Read in context

  • James 1:17

    Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

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  • 2 Chronicles 12:9–10

    So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king’s house; he took all: he carried away also the shields of gold which Solomon had made.

    Read in context

  • Luke 16:8

    And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

    Read in context

  • 2 Chronicles 10:13–16

    And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men,

    Read in context