THE EMPTINESS OF WORK

18 I hated all my work that I labored at under the sunm because I must leave it to the one who comes after me.n 19 And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool?o Yet he will take over all my work that I labored at skillfully under the sun. This too is futile. 20 So I began to give myself overG to despair concerning all my work that I had labored at under the sun. 21 When there is a person whose work was done with wisdom, knowledge, and skill,p and he must give his portion to a person who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great wrong. 22 For what does a person get with all his work and all his effortsq that he labors at under the sun? 23 For all his days are filled with grief, and his occupation is sorrowful;r even at night, his mind does not rest.s This too is futile.

24 There is nothing better for a person than to eat, drink, and enjoyH,I his work.t I have seen that even this is from God’s hand,u 25 because who can eat and who can enjoy lifeJ apart from him?K 26 For to the person who is pleasing in his sight, he gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy;v but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and accumulating in order to give to the one who is pleasing in God’s sight.w This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.x