Ecclesiastes 2:20
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.
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.
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.
22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- So my heart began to despair over all the labor that I had done under the sun.
- KJV
- Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.
- WEB
- Therefore I began to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor in which I had labored under the sun.
- ASV
- Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor wherein I had labored under the sun.
- DARBY
- Then I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour wherewith I had laboured under the sun.
- BLB
- And I turned around my heart to despair over all the toil that I have toiled under the sun.
- ÅB
- Da begynte jeg å bli fortvilet i mitt hjerte over alt det strev som jeg hadde møyet meg med under solen;
- OTB
- Så mitt hjerte ble fylt med fortvilelse over alt mitt møysommelige arbeid under solen.
- B1930
- Da begynte jeg å bli fortvilet i mitt hjerte over alt det strev som jeg hadde møiet mig med under solen;
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
1 Thessalonians 3:3–4
That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
Read in contextJob 17:11–15
My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.
Read in contextPsalms 39:6–7
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.
Read in contextGenesis 43:14
And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.
Read in context2 Corinthians 1:8–10
For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
Read in context1 Corinthians 15:19
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
Read in context