Catholic Public Domain Version
"Again, I detested all my efforts, by which I had earnestly labored under the sun, to be taken up by an heir after me, "
— Ecclesiastes 2:18, Catholic Public Domain Version
“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 me.”
“And I hated all my labor wherein I labored under the sun, seeing that I must leave it unto the man that shall be after me. ”
“I hated all my labor in which I labored under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me.”
“Futility of Being a Workaholic So I loathed all the fruit of my effort, for which I worked so hard on earth, because I must leave it behind in the hands of my successor.”
“Again I hated all my application wherewith I had earnestly laboured under the sun, being like to have an heir after me,”
“Hate had I for all my work which I had done, because the man who comes after me will have its fruits.”
“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 me.”
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.
For when someone labors in wisdom, and doctrine, and prudence, he leaves behind what he has obtained to one who is idle. So this, too, is emptiness and a great burden.