Ecclesiastes 2:17-26

¹⁷And therefore it annoyed me of my life, seeing that all things under the sun be evil, and that all things be vanity and torment of the spirit.

¹⁸Again I cursed all my busyness, by which I travailed most studiously under the sun; and I shall have an heir after me,

¹⁹whom I know not, whether he shall be wise either a fool; and he shall be lord in my travails, for which I sweated greatly, and was busy; and is there anything so vain?

²⁰Wherefore I ceased, and mine heart forsook for to travail further under the sun.

²¹For why when another man travaileth in wisdom, and teaching, and busyness, he leaveth things gotten to an idle man; and therefore this is vanity, and great evil.

²²For why what shall it profit to a man of all his travail, and torment of spirit, with which he was tormented under the sun?

²³All his days be full of sorrows and mischiefs, and by night he resteth not in soul; and whether this is not vanity?

²⁴Whether it is not better to eat and drink, and to show to his soul the goods of his travails? and this thing is of the hand of God.

²⁵Who shall devour so, and shall flow in delights, as I have?

²⁶God gave wisdom, and knowing, and gladness to a good man in his sight; but he gave torment, and superfluous busyness to a sinner, that he increase, and gather together, and give to him that pleaseth God; but also this is vanity, and vain busyness of soul.