"Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun." — Ecclesiastes 2:20

Ecclesiastes 2:20 · KJV

“Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.”

— Ecclesiastes 2:20

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

Verse 21

For there is a man whose labour {is} in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it {for} his portion. This also {is} vanity and a great evil. {leave: Heb. give}

Ecclesiastes 2 — Context

Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. {taken: Heb. laboured}

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

For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?

Cross References

Genesis 43:14

And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved {of my children}, I am bereaved. {If...: or, And I, as I have been, etc.}

Psalms 39:6-7

Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up {riches}, and knoweth not who shall gather them. {a vain...: Heb. an image}

1 Thessalonians 3:3-4

That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. {there unto: or, to sufferings, or, to persecution}

1 Corinthians 15:19

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

Job 17:11-15

My days are past, my purposes are broken off, {even} the thoughts of my heart. {the thoughts: Heb. the possessions}

2 Corinthians 1:8-10

For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: