Ecclesiastes 2:22

For how can a man benefit from all his labor and affliction of spirit, by which he has been tormented under the sun?

Catholic Public Domain Version

In The King James Version

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

In Context

21For when someone labors in wisdom, and doctrine, and prudence, he leaves behind what he has obtained to one who is idle. So this, too, is emptiness and a great burden.

23All his days have been filled with sorrows and hardships; neither does he rest his mind, even in the night. And is this not emptiness?

Read all of Ecclesiastes 2

Cross References

Proverbs 16:26The soul of the laborer labors for himself, because his mouth has driven him to it.

Ecclesiastes 2:11But when I turned myself toward all the works that my hands had made, and to the labors in which I had perspired to no purpose, I saw emptiness and affliction of the soul in all things, and that nothing is permanent under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 4:6“A handful with rest is better than both hands filled with labors and with affliction of the soul.”

Ecclesiastes 5:10Where there are many riches, there will also be many to consume these things. And how does it benefit the one who possesses, except that he discerns the wealth with his own eyes?

Ecclesiastes 6:7Every labor of man is for his mouth, but his soul will not be filled.

Matthew 6:11Give us this day our life-sustaining bread.

Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 2:18-26

Sources of Dissatisfaction; The Cheerful Use of Abundance. 17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 18 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. 19 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… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Ecclesiastes 2:22