Ecclesiastes 2:17-26 - Is There Real Happiness In Life?
17 Thus began I to be weary of my life, in so much that I could away with nothing that is done under the Sun, for all was but vanity and vexation of mind:
18 Yea, I was weary of all my labour, which I had taken under the Sun, because I should be fain to leave them unto another man, that cometh after me. 19 For who knoweth, whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? And yet shall he be lord of all my labours, which I with such wisdom have taken under the Sun. Is not this a vain thing? 20 So I turned me to refrain my mind from all such travail, as I took under the Sun: 21 Forsomuch as a man should weary himself with wisdom, with understanding and opportunity, and yet be fain to leave his labours unto another, that never sweat for them. This is also a vain thing and a great misery. 22 For what getteth a man of all the labor and travail of his mind, that he taketh under the Sun, 23 but heaviness, sorrow and disquietness all the days of his life? Insomuch that his heart cannot rest in the night. Is not this also a vain thing?
24 Is it not better then for a man to eat and drink, and his soul to be merry in his labour? Yea I saw that this also was a gift of God: 25 For who will eat or go more lustily to his work than I? 26 He giveth unto man, what it pleaseth him; whether it be wisdom, understanding, or gladness. But unto the sinner he giveth weariness and sorrow, that he may gather and heap together the thing, that afterward shall be given unto him whom it pleaseth God. This is now a vain thing, yea a very disquietness and vexation of mind.