Ecclesiastes 2:12-26

Ecclesiastes 2:12-26

[12] And I turned  myself to behold  wisdom,  and madness,  and folly:  for what can the man  do that cometh  after  the king?  even that which hath been already  done.  [13] Then I saw  that  wisdom  excelleth  folly,  as far as light  excelleth  darkness.  [14] The wise man's  eyes  are in his head;  but the fool  walketh  in darkness:  and I myself perceived  also that one  event  happeneth  [15] Then  said  I in my heart,  As it happeneth  to the fool,  so it happeneth  even to me;  and why was I then more  wise?  Then I said  in my heart,  that this also is vanity.  [16] For there is no remembrance  of the wise  more than  of the fool  for ever;  seeing that which now  is in the days  to come  shall all be forgotten.  And how dieth  the wise  man? as the fool.  [17] Therefore I hated  life;  because the work  that is wrought  under the sun  is grievous  unto me: for all is vanity  and vexation  of spirit.  [18] Yea, I hated  all my labour  which I had taken  under the sun:  because I should leave  it unto the man  that shall be after  [19] 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.  [20] Therefore I went about  my heart  to despair  of all the labour  which I took  under the sun.  [21] For there is  a man  whose labour  is in wisdom,  and in knowledge,  and in equity;  yet to a man  that hath not laboured  therein shall he leave  it for his portion.  This also is vanity  and a great  evil.  [22] For what hath  man  of all his labour,  and of the vexation  of his heart,  wherein  he hath laboured  under the sun?  [23] For all his days  are sorrows,  and his travail  grief;  yea, his heart  taketh not rest  in the night.  This is also vanity.  [24] There is nothing better  for a man,  than that he should eat  and drink,  and that he should make his soul  enjoy  good  in his labour.  This  also I saw,  that it was from the hand  of God.  [25] For who can eat,  or who else can hasten  hereunto, more  [26] For God giveth  to a man  that is good  in his sight  wisdom,  and knowledge,  and joy:  but to the sinner  he giveth  travail,  to gather  and to heap up,  that he may give  to him that is good  before  God.  This also is vanity  and vexation  of spirit.