Ecclesiastes 2:20

Modern

So my heart began to despair over all the labor that I had done under the sun.

Traditional

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

Literal

And I turned around my heart to despair over all the toil that I have toiled under the sun.

Latin

Unde cessavi, renuntiavitque cor meum ultra laborare sub sole.

Hebrew

English

So my heart began to despair over all the labor that I had done under the sun.

The Teacher began to dislike life because of its:

The Teacher now examines the value of wisdom (Ecclesiastes 2:12–17) and hard work (2:18–23). These, too, are futile (Ecclesiastes 2:17).

The Teacher examines how wisdom, work, and pleasure relate to each other.

Theme notes and profiles

Job 17:11–15
My days have passed; my plans are broken off—even the desires of my heart.
1 Thessalonians 3:3–4
…so that none of you would be shaken by these trials. For you know that we are destined for this.
Genesis 43:14
May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother along with Benjamin. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”
Psalm 39:6–7
Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away.
1 Corinthians 15:19
If our hope in Christ is for this life alone, we are to be pitied more than all men.
2 Corinthians 1:8–10
We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.