Ecclesiastes 2:21

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.

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?

23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

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

Compare

BSB
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.
KJV
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.
WEB
For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, with knowledge, and with skillfulness; yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.
ASV
For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet to a man that hath not labored therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
DARBY
For there is a man whose labour hath been with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skill, and who leaveth it to a man that hath not laboured therein, to be his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
BLB
For there is a man whose toil [is] with wisdom and with knowledge and with skill, and to a man not having toiled for it he must give his portion. This also [is] vapor and a great evil.
ÅB
for er det et menneske som har gjort sitt arbeid med visdom og kunnskap og dyktighet, så må han allikevel gi det fra seg til et menneske som ikke har hatt noen strev med det, som hans eiendom; også dette er tomhet og et stort onde.
OTB
For en person kan arbeide med visdom, kunnskap og dyktighet, og så må de overlate alt de eier til en annen som ikke har strevet for det. Også dette er forgjeves og en stor ulykke.
B1930
for er det et menneske som har gjort sitt arbeid med visdom og kunnskap og dyktighet, så må han allikevel gi det fra sig til et menneske som ikke har hatt nogen møie med det, som hans eiendom; også dette er tomhet og et stort onde.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Ecclesiastes 2:17–18

    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.

    Read in context
  • Ecclesiastes 9:18

    Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 22:15

    Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him?

    Read in context
  • 2 Chronicles 31:20–21

    And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.

    Read in context
  • 2 Chronicles 35:18

    And there was no passover like to that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 22:17

    But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.

    Read in context
  • 2 Chronicles 34:2

    And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left.

    Read in context
  • 2 Chronicles 33:2–9

    But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.

    Read in context