Catholic Public Domain Version
"Therefore, I ceased, and my heart renounced further laboring under the sun. "
— Ecclesiastes 2:20, Catholic Public Domain Version
“Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.”
“Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor wherein I had labored under the sun. ”
“Therefore I began to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor in which I had labored under the sun.”
“So I began to despair about all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so hard on earth.”
“Wherefore I left off and my heart renounced labouring anymore under the sun.”
“So my mind was turned to grief for all the trouble I had taken and all my wisdom under the sun.”
“Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.”
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.
For how can a man benefit from all his labor and affliction of spirit, by which he has been tormented under the sun?
All his days have been filled with sorrows and hardships; neither does he rest his mind, even in the night. And is this not emptiness?