New American Standard Bible 1995
Ecclesiastes 2:18-26
18Thus I hated 1all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must 2leave it to the man who will come after me. 19And who knows whether he will be a wise man or 3a fool? Yet he will have 4control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is 5vanity. 20Therefore I 6completely despaired of all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun. 21When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge and 7skill, then he 8gives his 9legacy to one who has not labored with them. This too is vanity and a great evil. 22For what does a man get in 10all his labor and in 11his striving with which he labors under the sun? 23Because all his days his task is painful and 12grievous; even at night his 13mind 14does not rest. This too is vanity.
24There is 15nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and 16tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is 17from the hand of God. 25For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without 18Him? 26For to a person who is good in His sight 19He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may 20give to one who is good in God’s sight. This too is 21vanity and striving after wind.
Notes
- 1. Ecclesiastes 2:18 Eccl 1:3; 2:11 ↩
- 2. Ecclesiastes 2:18 Ps 39:6; 49:10 ↩
- 3. Ecclesiastes 2:19 1 Kin 12:13 ↩
- 4. Ecclesiastes 2:19 Lit dominion ↩
- 5. Ecclesiastes 2:19 1 Tim 6:10 ↩
- 6. Ecclesiastes 2:20 Lit turned aside my heart to despair ↩
- 7. Ecclesiastes 2:21 Eccl 4:4 ↩
- 8. Ecclesiastes 2:21 Eccl 2:18 ↩
- 9. Ecclesiastes 2:21 Lit share ↩
- 10. Ecclesiastes 2:22 Eccl 1:3; 2:11 ↩
- 11. Ecclesiastes 2:22 Lit the striving of his heart ↩
- 12. Ecclesiastes 2:23 Job 5:7; 14:1; Eccl 1:18; 5:17 ↩
- 13. Ecclesiastes 2:23 Lit heart ↩
- 14. Ecclesiastes 2:23 Ps 127:2 ↩
- 15. Ecclesiastes 2:24 Eccl 2:3; 3:12, 13, 22; 5:18; 6:12; 8:15; 9:7; Is 56:12; Luke 12:19; 1 Cor 15:32; 1 Tim 6:17 ↩
- 16. Ecclesiastes 2:24 Lit cause his soul to see good in his labor ↩
- 17. Ecclesiastes 2:24 Eccl 3:13 ↩
- 18. Ecclesiastes 2:25 So Gr; Heb me ↩
- 19. Ecclesiastes 2:26 Job 32:8; Prov 2:6 ↩
- 20. Ecclesiastes 2:26 Job 27:16, 17; Prov 13:22 ↩
- 21. Ecclesiastes 2:26 Eccl 1:14 ↩
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New American Standard Bible 1995 — © 1960–1995 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Commentaries