Ecclesiastes 2:20

Is There Real Happiness In Life?

¹⁹ And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is vanity (futility, self-conceit). ²⁰ So I turned aside and let my heart despair over all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun. ²¹ For there is a man who has labored with wisdom and knowledge and skill, yet gives his legacy to one who has not labored for it. This too is vanity and a great evil.

On Earth

Toiled Under the Sun

Under the Sun

Genesis 43:14

and may God Almighty grant you compassion and favor before the man, so that he will release to you your other brother [Simeon] and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children [Joseph, Simeon, and Benjamin], I am bereaved.”

Job 17:11-15

“My days are past, my purposes and plans are frustrated and torn apart;
The wishes of my heart [are broken].

Psalm 39:6-7

“Surely every man walks around like a shadow [in a charade];
Surely they make an uproar for nothing;
Each one builds up riches, not knowing who will receive them.

1 Corinthians 15:19

If we who are [abiding] in Christ have hoped only in this life [and this is all there is], then we are of all people most miserable and to be pitied.

2 Corinthians 1:8-10

For we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about our trouble in [the west coast province of] Asia [Minor], how we were utterly weighed down, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life [itself].

1 Thessalonians 3:3-4

so that no one would be unsettled by these difficulties [to which I have referred]. For you know that we have been destined for this [as something unavoidable in our position].