Ecclesiastes 2:20 kjv — Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.

King James Version

"Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun."

— Ecclesiastes 2:20, King James Version

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Ecclesiastes 2:20 in Other Translations

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Ecclesiastes 2 — Context

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 me.

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 to cause 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.

Ecclesiastes 2:20 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ecclesiastes 2:20 say?
Ecclesiastes 2:20 in the King James Version reads: “Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.”
Where is Ecclesiastes 2:20 in the Bible?
Ecclesiastes 2:20 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 2, verse 20.
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 2:20.
What translation should I read Ecclesiastes 2:20 in?
Ecclesiastes 2:20 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 2:20?
Ecclesiastes 2:20 reads (KJV): “Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.” 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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