Ecclesiastes 2:12-23 - The Living Must Abandon The Work Of Their Hands To Others At Death
12 Thus turned, I, to look at wisdom, and madness and folly, - for what can the man do more who cometh after the king? save that which, already, men have done. 13 Then saw, I, that wisdom doth excel folly, - as far as light excelleth darkness.
14 As for the wise man, his eyes, are in his head, whereas, the dullard, in darkness, doth walk, - but, I myself, knew that, one destiny, happeneth to them, all. 15 Then said, I, in my heart, As it happeneth to the dullard, even to me, will it happen, but wherefore, then, became, I, wise to excess? Therefore spake I, in my heart, Even this, is vanity. 16 For there is no remembrance of a wise man, more than of a dullard, unto times age-abiding, - seeing that, already, in the days to come, all hath been forgotten, how then cometh it that the wise man dieth equally with the dullard? 17 Therefore I hated life, for, a vexation unto me, was the work which was done under the sun, - for, all, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.
18 Therefore hated, I, all my toil, wherein I was toiling, under the sun, - in that I should leave it for the man who should come after me; 19 and who could know whether a, wise man, he would be or a foolish, and yet he would lord it over all my toil, wherein I had toiled and wherein I had acted wisely, under the sun, - even this, was vanity. 20 Then resolved I, to give my heart over to despair, - concerning all the toil, wherein I had toiled, under the sun. 21 For here is a man, whose toil hath been with wisdom and with knowledge and with skill, - yet, to a man who hath not toiled therein, shall he leave it as his portion, even this, was vanity and a great vexation. 22 For what hath the man for all his toil, and for the striving of his heart, - wherein, he himself, toiled under the sun? 23 For, all his days, are pains, and, vexatious, is his employment, even in the night, his heart lieth not down, - even this, was, vanity.