Ecclesiastes 2:18

New English Translation

So I loathed all the fruit of my effort, for which I worked so hard on earth, because I must leave it behind in the hands of my successor.

Cross References

Psalm 17:14

Lord, use your power to deliver me from these murderers, from the murderers of this world! They enjoy prosperity; you overwhelm them with the riches they desire. They have many children, and leave their wealth to their offspring.

Psalm 39:6

Surely people go through life as mere ghosts. Surely they accumulate worthless wealth without knowing who will eventually haul it away.”

Psalm 49:10

Surely one sees that even wise people die; fools and spiritually insensitive people all pass away and leave their wealth to others.

Ecclesiastes 1:13

I decided to carefully and thoroughly examine all that has been accomplished on earth. I concluded: God has given people a burdensome task that keeps them occupied.

Ecclesiastes 1:3

What benefit do people get from all the effort which they expend on earth?

Ecclesiastes 2:11

Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded: “All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless – like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth.”

Ecclesiastes 2:21

For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; however, he must hand over the fruit of his labor as an inheritance to someone else who did not work for it. This also is futile, and an awful injustice!

Ecclesiastes 2:26

For to the one who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, he gives the task of amassing wealth – only to give it to the one who pleases God. This task of the wicked is futile – like chasing the wind!

Ecclesiastes 3:22

So I perceived there is nothing better than for people to enjoy their work, because that is their reward; for who can show them what the future holds?

Ecclesiastes 4:3

But better than both is the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth.

Ecclesiastes 5:18

I have seen personally what is the only beneficial and appropriate course of action for people: to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all their hard work on earth during the few days of their life which God has given them, for this is their reward.

Ecclesiastes 9:9

Enjoy life with your beloved wife during all the days of your fleeting life that God has given you on earth during all your fleeting days; for that is your reward in life and in your burdensome work on earth.

Luke 12:20

But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

1 Corinthians 3:10

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master-builder I laid a foundation, but someone else builds on it. And each one must be careful how he builds.