Ecclesiastes 2:20

Then resolved I, to give my heart over to despair,—concerning all the toil, wherein I had toiled, under the sun.

The Emphasised Bible by J. B. Rotherham

In The King James Version

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

In Context

19and who could know whether a, wise man, he would be or a foolish, and yet he would lord it over all my toil, wherein I had toiled and wherein I had acted wisely, under the sun,—even this, was vanity.

21For here is a man, whose toil hath been with wisdom and with knowledge and with skill,—yet, to a man who hath not toiled therein, shall he leave it as his portion, even this, was vanity and a great vexation.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 2

Cross References

Genesis 43:14And, God Almighty, give you compassion before the man, so shall he send with you, your other brother, and Benjamin. But, as for me, when I am bereaved, I am bereaved!

Psalms 39:6Surely as a shadow, doth every man wander, Surely in vain, do they bustle about, he heapeth things up, and knoweth not who shall gather them in.

2 Corinthians 1:8For we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, as to our tribulation which happened in Asia,—that, exceedingly, beyond power, were we weighed down, so that we despaired, even of life.

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

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