Ecclesiastes 2:21
For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
KJV
Nam cum alius laboret in sapientia, et doctrina, et sollicitudine, homini otioso quæsita dimittit ; et hoc ergo vanitas et magnum malum.
Vulgate
ὅτι ἐστὶν ἄνθρωπος, ὅτι μόχθος αὐτοῦ ἐν σοφίᾳ καὶ ἐν γνώσει καὶ ἐν ἀνδρείᾳ· καὶ ἄνθρωπος ᾧ οὐκ ἐμόχθησεν ἐν αὐτῷ, δώσει αὐτῷ μερίδα αὐτοῦ· καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ πονηρία μεγάλη.
LXX
For 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.
ASV
כִּי יֵ֣שׁ אָדָ֗ם שֶׁ/עֲמָל֛/וֹ בְּ/חָכְמָ֥ה וּ/בְ/דַ֖עַת וּ/בְ/כִשְׁר֑וֹן וּ/לְ/אָדָ֞ם שֶׁ/לֹּ֤א עָֽמַל בּ/וֹ֙ יִתְּנֶ֣/נּוּ חֶלְק֔/וֹ גַּם זֶ֥ה הֶ֖בֶל וְ/רָעָ֥ה רַבָּֽה
Hebrew
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In the original Hebrew
16 distinct Hebrew words appear in this verse.
Historic Christian voices
3 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.
Cross-references
- Eccl 1:2 — Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
- Eccl 2:17 — Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
- Eccl 4:4 — Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
- Jer 2:13 — For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.