Ecclesiastes 2:20

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18 Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because ^aI must leave it to the man who will come after me.

19 And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I toiled and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.

20 Therefore I turned my heart and despaired of all the labor in which I had toiled under the sun.

21 For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; yet he must leave his¹ heritage to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.

22 ^aFor what has man for all his labor, and for the striving of his heart with which he has toiled under the sun?

23 For all his days are ^asorrowful, and his work burdensome; even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.

24 ^aNothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.

25 For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment,¹ more than I?

Verse Comparison: Ecclesiastes 2:20

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Ecclesiastes 2:21 >>

American Standard Version
Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor wherein I had labored under the sun.

Amplified® Bible
So I turned around and gave my heart up to despair over all the labor of my efforts under the sun.

Contemporary English Version
I thought about all my hard work, and I felt depressed.

Darby English Version
Then I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour wherewith I had laboured under the sun.

Good News Bible
So I came to regret that I had worked so hard.

King James Version
Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.

New American Standard Bible
Therefore I completely despaired of all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun.

New International Version
So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun.

New King James Version
Therefore I turned my heart and despaired of all the labor in which I had toiled under the sun.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
Therefore I completely despaired of all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun.

Revised Standard Version
So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun,

Young's Literal Translation
And I turned round to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labour that I laboured at under the sun.

New English Translation
So I began to despair¹ about all the fruit of² my labor³ for which I worked so hard⁴ on earth.⁵

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Ecclesiastes 2:21 >>