Ecclesiastes 2:21

For there is a man whose labor has been with wisdom and knowledge and skill; yet to a man who hath not labored for it must he leave it as his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.

Noyes Bible

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

20Therefore I turned to give up my heart to despair in regard to all the labor with which I had wearied myself under the sun.

22For what hath man of all his labor, and the striving of his spirit, with which he wearieth himself under the sun?

Read all of Ecclesiastes 2

Cross References

Psalms 49:11They imagine that their houses will endure for ever, And their dwelling-places from generation to generation: Men celebrate their names on the earth.

Ecclesiastes 9:18Wisdom is better than weapons of war. But one offender destroyeth much good.

Jeremiah 22:17But thine eyes and thy heart are only upon thine own gain, And the shedding of innocent blood, And deeds of violence and oppression.

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 2:21