Ecclesiastes 2:21

New English Translation

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!

Cross References

2 Chronicles 34:2

He did what the Lord approved and followed in his ancestor David’s footsteps; he did not deviate to the right or the left.

2 Chronicles 35:18

A Passover like this had not been observed in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet. None of the kings of Israel had observed a Passover like the one celebrated by Josiah, the priests, the Levites, all the people of Judah and Israel who were there, and the residents of Jerusalem.

Psalm 39:7

But now, O Lord, upon what am I relying? You are my only hope!

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.

Psalm 49:11

Their grave becomes their permanent residence, their eternal dwelling place. They name their lands after themselves,

Ecclesiastes 2:20

So I began to despair about all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so hard on earth.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless – like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:8

A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is futile and a burdensome task!

Ecclesiastes 9:18

Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much that is good.

Jeremiah 22:15

Does it make you any more of a king that you outstrip everyone else in building with cedar? Just think about your father. He was content that he had food and drink. He did what was just and right. So things went well with him.

Jeremiah 22:17

But you are always thinking and looking for ways to increase your wealth by dishonest means. Your eyes and your heart are set on killing some innocent person and committing fraud and oppression.