Ecclesiastes 2:18 nasb — Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will c…

NASB

"Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me."

— Ecclesiastes 2:18, NASB

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Ecclesiastes 2:18 in Other Translations

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Ecclesiastes 2 — Context

15

Then I said to myself, "As is the fate of the fool, it will also befall me. Why then have I been extremely wise?" So I said to myself, "This too is vanity."

16

For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise man as with the fool, inasmuch as in the coming days all will be forgotten. And how the wise man and the fool alike die!

17

So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was grievous to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind.

18

Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me.

19

And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is vanity.

20

Therefore I completely despaired of all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun.

21

When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge and skill, then he gives his legacy to one who has not labored with them. This too is vanity and a great evil.

Ecclesiastes 2:18 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ecclesiastes 2:18 say?
Ecclesiastes 2:18 in the NASB reads: “Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me.”
Where is Ecclesiastes 2:18 in the Bible?
Ecclesiastes 2:18 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 2, verse 18.
Who wrote Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes is traditionally attributed to Solomon (traditional; identified as "the Preacher, son of David"). It was written c. 940 BC.
What is the book of Ecclesiastes about?
Ecclesiastes is a candid meditation on life "under the sun" — its pleasures, its pains, and its apparent vanity. The Preacher tries wisdom, wealth, work, and pleasure, finds them all empty without God, and concludes that fearing God and keeping his commandments is the whole of man.
What are the major themes of Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes explores themes including Vanity, Time, Meaning, Fear of God, Mortality. These themes shape the meaning and context of Ecclesiastes 2:18.
What translation should I read Ecclesiastes 2:18 in?
Ecclesiastes 2:18 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Ecclesiastes 2:18?
Ecclesiastes 2:18 reads (NASB): “Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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