Ecclesiastes 2:18–26

¹⁸And I hated all my labor wherein I labored under the sun, seeing that I must leave it unto the man that shall be after me. ¹⁹And who knoweth whether he will be a wise man or a fool? yet will he have rule over all my labor wherein I have labored, and wherein I have showed myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity. ²⁰Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor wherein I had labored under the sun. ²¹For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet to a man that hath not labored therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil. ²²For what hath a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, wherein he laboreth under the sun? ²³For all his days are but sorrows, and his travail is grief; yea, even in the night his heart taketh no rest. This also is vanity.

²⁴There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God. ²⁵For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I? ²⁶For to the man that pleaseth him God giveth wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that pleaseth God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.