Catholic Public Domain Version
"And, because of this, my life wearied me, since I saw that everything under the sun is evil, and everything is empty and an affliction of the spirit. "
— Ecclesiastes 2:17, Catholic Public Domain Version
“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.”
“So I hated life, because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me; for all is vanity and a striving after wind. ”
“So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.”
“So I loathed life because what happens on earth seems awful to me; for all the benefits of wisdom are futile– like chasing the wind.”
“And therefore I was weary of my life, when I saw that all things under the sun are evil, and all vanity and vexation of spirit.”
“So I was hating life, because everything under the sun was evil to me: all is to no purpose and desire for wind.”
“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.”
The eyes of a wise man are in his head. A foolish man walks in darkness. Yet I learned that one would pass away like the other.
And I said in my heart: “If the death of both the foolish and myself will be one, how does it benefit me, if I have given myself more thoroughly to the work of wisdom?” And as I was speaking within my own mind, I perceived that this, too, is emptiness.
For there will not be a remembrance in perpetuity of the wise, nor of the foolish. And the future times will cover everything together, with oblivion. The learned die in a manner similar to the unlearned.
And, because of this, my life wearied me, since I saw that everything under the sun is evil, and everything is empty and an affliction of the spirit.
Again, I detested all my efforts, by which I had earnestly labored under the sun, to be taken up by an heir after me,
though I know not whether he will be wise or foolish. And yet he will have power over my labors, in which I have toiled and been anxious. And is there anything else so empty?
Therefore, I ceased, and my heart renounced further laboring under the sun.