Ecclesiastes 2:18-26

¹⁸And I hated all my labour wherein I laboured under the sun, seeing that I must leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

¹⁹And who knoweth whether he will be a wise man or a fool? yet will he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.

²⁰Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labour wherein I had laboured under the sun.

²¹For there is a man whose labour is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skill; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.

²²For what hath a man of all his labour, and of the striving of his heart, wherein he laboureth under the sun?

²³For all his days are pains, and his occupation vexation; yea, even in the night his heart taketh not rest. This also is vanity.

²⁴There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy pleasure for his labour. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.

²⁵For who will eat, or who will enjoy, if not I?

²⁶For to the man that is good in His sight He giveth wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner He giveth the task, to gather and to heap up, that he may leave to him that is good in the sight of God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.