Parallel Verses
World English Bible
Therefore I began to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor in which I had labored under the sun.
New American Standard Bible
Therefore I
King James Version
Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.
Holman Bible
So I began to give myself over
International Standard Version
So I came to be in despair about everything I had accomplished on earth.
A Conservative Version
Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor in which I had labored under the sun.
American Standard Version
Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor wherein I had labored under the sun.
Amplified
So I turned aside and let my heart despair over all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun.
Bible in Basic English
So my mind was turned to grief for all the trouble I had taken and all my wisdom under the sun.
Darby Translation
Then I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour wherewith I had laboured under the sun.
Julia Smith Translation
And I turned about to let my heart despair for all the labor I labored under the sun.
King James 2000
Therefore I gave my heart up to despair of all the labor in which I toiled under the sun.
Lexham Expanded Bible
So {I began to despair} of all the toil with which I toiled under the sun.
Modern King James verseion
And I turned to cause my heart to despair over all the labor which I did under the sun.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
So I turned me to refrain my mind from all such travail, as I took under the Sun:
NET Bible
So I began to despair about all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so hard on earth.
New Heart English Bible
Therefore I began to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor in which I had labored under the sun.
The Emphasized Bible
Then resolved I, to give my heart over to despair, - concerning all the toil, wherein I had toiled, under the sun.
Webster
Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labor which I took under the sun.
Youngs Literal Translation
And I turned round to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labour that I laboured at under the sun.
Interlinear
Cabab
Leb
Word Count of 20 Translations in Ecclesiastes 2:20
Verse Info
Context Readings
Is There Real Happiness In Life?
19 Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of my labor in which I have labored, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity. 20 Therefore I began to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor in which I had labored under the sun. 21 For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, with knowledge, and with skillfulness; yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.
Cross References
Genesis 43:14
May God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release to you your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved."
Job 17:11-15
My days are past, my plans are broken off, as are the thoughts of my heart.
Psalm 39:6-7
"Surely every man walks like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up, and doesn't know who shall gather.
1 Corinthians 15:19
If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.
2 Corinthians 1:8-10
For we don't desire to have you uninformed, brothers, concerning our affliction which happened to us in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, so much that we despaired even of life.
1 Thessalonians 3:3-4
that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed to this task.