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Ecclesiastes 2:19

And who knows whether that man will be wise or foolish? Yet he will take over all the labor at which I have worked skillfully under the sun. This too is futile.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

And who knoweth whether he will be a wise man or a fool? yet will he have rule over all my labor wherein I have labored, and wherein I have showed myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.

KJV

And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.

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Commentary

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Original language & word study

16 tagged words
OriginalTransliterationMeaningWord study
וּמִ֣יu.Miand who?H4310 →
יוֹדֵ֗עַyo.De.a'[is] knowingH3045 →
הֶֽחָכָ֤םhe.cha.Kham¿ a wise [person]H2450 →
יִהְיֶה֙yih.Yehwill he beH1961 →
א֣וֹ'oor?H176 →
סָכָ֔לsa.Khala foolH5530 →
וְיִשְׁלַט֙ve.yish.Latso he may have powerH7980 →
בְּכָל־be.kholover allH3605 →
עֲמָלִ֔י'a.ma.Litoil myH5999 →
שֶֽׁעָמַ֥לְתִּיshe.'a.Mal.tithat I have toiledH5998 →
וְשֶׁחָכַ֖מְתִּיve.she.cha.Kham.tiand that I worked skillfullyH2449 →
תַּ֣חַתTa.chatunderH8478 →
הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁha.Sha.meshthe sunH8121 →
גַּם־gam-alsoH1571 →
זֶ֖הzehthisH2088 →
הָֽבֶל׃Ha.vel[is] futilityH1892 →

The walk

Related verses

18 strongest cross-references

The gold bar shows how strongly the cross-reference sources tie the two verses together: a long bar means many compiled references make the connection, a short one means few.

Jeremiah 9:23This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches.Ecclesiastes 1:2“Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher, “futility of futilities! Everything is futile!”Ecclesiastes 1:3What does a man gain from all his labor, at which he toils under the sun?1 Samuel 8:3But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.James 3:17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.Ecclesiastes 3:22I have seen that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will come after him?Proverbs 10:1The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.Proverbs 23:24The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice, and he who fathers a wise son will delight in him.1 Kings 14:25–28In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, Shishak king of Egypt came up and attacked Jerusalem.James 1:17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.Ecclesiastes 9:13I have also seen this wisdom under the sun, and it was great to me:Luke 16:8The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the sons of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the sons of light.2 Chronicles 12:9–10So King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem and seized the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the royal palace. He took everything, including the gold shields that Solomon had made.1 Kings 12:14–20and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”2 Chronicles 10:13–16And the king answered them harshly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders2 Chronicles 33:3For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had torn down, and he raised up altars for the Baals and made Asherah poles. And he worshiped and served all the host of heaven.Ecclesiastes 11:8So if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is futile.2 Chronicles 10:14and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”

Featured studies on this passage

King Solomon in Old Age — Gustave Doré

On Ecclesiastes 2:19

Ecclesiastes: the Study Guide

A lifetime's labor left to an heir who did not labor for it, and no one can say in advance whether that heir will be wise or a fool.

Open the study →

Still-Life with a Skull (Vanitas) — Philippe de Champaigne

On Ecclesiastes 2:19

Vanity Under the Sun — Ecclesiastes

Built, planted, and gathered : then must leave it all “unto the man that shall be after me,” who did not labor for it, and who may be a fool.

Open the study →

About Ecclesiastes

King Solomon in Old Age — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
King Solomon in Old Age — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
Ecclesiastes: the study guide →Read chapter 2 →The featured study →
Continue: Ecclesiastes 2 →