Ecclesiastes 2:23
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.
22 For what does a man get for all the toil and striving with which he labors under the sun?
Indeed, all his days are filled with grief, and his task is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile.
24 Nothing is better for a man than to eat and drink and enjoy his work. I have also seen that this is from the hand of God.
25 For apart from Him, who can eat and who can find enjoyment?
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Indeed, all his days are filled with grief, and his task is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile.
- KJV
- For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
- WEB
- For all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.
- ASV
- For all his days are [but] sorrows, and his travail is grief; yea, even in the night his heart taketh no rest. This also is vanity.
- DARBY
- For all his days are sorrows, and his travail vexation: even in the night his heart taketh no rest. This also is vanity.
- BLB
- For all his days are pains, and anger [is] his task; even in the night his heart will not find rest. This also is vapor.
- ÅB
- Alle hans dager er jo fulle av smerte, og all hans umak er bare gremmelse; selv om natten har hans hjerte ikke ro; også dette er tomhet.
- OTB
- Alle deres dager bringer deres arbeid sorg og smerte; selv om natten finner deres sinn ikke hvile. Også dette er forgjeves.
- B1930
- Alle hans dager er jo fulle av smerte, og all hans umak er bare gremmelse; selv om natten har hans hjerte ikke ro; også dette er tomhet.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Job 14:1
“Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble.
Read in contextJob 5:7
Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.
Read in contextJob 7:13–14
When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint,
Read in contextPsalms 127:2
In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat— for He gives sleep to His beloved.
Read in contextPsalms 6:6–7
I am weary from groaning; all night I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.
Read in contextDaniel 6:18
Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No entertainment was brought before him, and sleep fled from him.
Read in contextGenesis 47:9
“My travels have lasted 130 years,” Jacob replied. “My years have been few and hard, and they have not matched the years of the travels of my fathers.”
Read in contextActs 14:22
strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
Read in context