Ecclesiastes 2:22

For what profit does the person gain who works so hard and tries in his heart to complete his labors under the sun?

Unlocked Literal Bible

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 there might be someone who works with wisdom, with knowledge, and skill, but he will leave everything he has to a man who has not made any of it. This also is vapor and a great tragedy.

23Every day his work is painful and stressful, so at night his soul does not find rest. This also is vapor.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 2

Cross References

Proverbs 16:26The laborer's appetite works for him; 1 his hunger urges him on. 1

Ecclesiastes 2:11Then I looked on all the deeds that my hands had accomplished, 2 and on the work that I had done, 1 but again, everything was vapor and an attempt to shepherd the wind. 2 There was no profit under the sun in it. 1

Ecclesiastes 4:6But better is a handful of profit with quiet work 2 than two handfuls with the work that tries to shepherd the wind.

Ecclesiastes 5:10Anyone who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver, 2 and anyone who loves wealth always wants more. 1 This, too, is vapor. 1

Ecclesiastes 6:7All a man's work is for his mouth, 2 yet his appetite is not satisfied. 1

Matthew 6:11Give us today our daily bread. 2

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