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Journey Through the Bible

Ecclesiastes 2:17-21

17 Toil Is Meaningless
So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

18 I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me.

19 And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the work into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless.

20 So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun.

21 For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.

Cross References for Ecclesiastes 2:17-21

Genesis 3:17 - To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I command... Click to read the verse Genesis 3:17 Click to read the verse Genesis 3:17

Ecclesiastes 2:11 - Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was... Click to read the verse Ecclesiastes 2:11 Click to read the verse Ecclesiastes 2:11

Job 14:1 - “Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. Click to read the verse Job 14:1 Click to read the verse Job 14:1

Job 14:13 - “If only you would hide me in the grave and conceal me till your anger has passed! If only you ... Click to read the verse Job 14:13 Click to read the verse Job 14:13

Numbers 11:15 - If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now—if I have found favor in yo... Click to read the verse Numbers 11:15 Click to read the verse Numbers 11:15

Jonah 4:3 - Now, O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” Click to read the verse Jonah 4:3 Click to read the verse Jonah 4:3

Job 3:20-22 - “Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul, Click to read the verse Job 3:20-22 Click to read the verse Job 3:20-22

1 Kings 19:4 - while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under ... Click to read the verse 1 Kings 19:4 Click to read the verse 1 Kings 19:4

John 12:25 - The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will ke... Click to read the verse John 12:25 Click to read the verse John 12:25

Jeremiah 20:14-18 - Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me not be blessed! Click to read the verse Jeremiah 20:14-18 Click to read the verse Jeremiah 20:14-18

Ecclesiastes 1:14 - I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing ... Click to read the verse Ecclesiastes 1:14 Click to read the verse Ecclesiastes 1:14

Ezekiel 3:14 - The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my ... Click to read the verse Ezekiel 3:14 Click to read the verse Ezekiel 3:14

Jonah 4:8 - When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so th... Click to read the verse Jonah 4:8 Click to read the verse Jonah 4:8

Ecclesiastes 3:1 - A Time for Everything There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under hea... Click to read the verse Ecclesiastes 3:1 Click to read the verse Ecclesiastes 3:1

Job 7:15-16 - so that I prefer strangling and death, rather than this body of mine. Click to read the verse Job 7:15-16 Click to read the verse Job 7:15-16

Ecclesiastes 6:9 - Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing af... Click to read the verse Ecclesiastes 6:9 Click to read the verse Ecclesiastes 6:9

Psalms 89:47 - Remember how fleeting is my life. For what futility you have created all men! Click to read the verse Psalms 89:47 Click to read the verse Psalms 89:47

Ecclesiastes 1:2 - “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” Click to read the verse Ecclesiastes 1:2 Click to read the verse Ecclesiastes 1:2

Ecclesiastes 2:22 - What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? Click to read the verse Ecclesiastes 2:22 Click to read the verse Ecclesiastes 2:22

Ecclesiastes 11:8 - However many years a man may live, let him enjoy them all. But let him remember the days of dar... Click to read the verse Ecclesiastes 11:8 Click to read the verse Ecclesiastes 11:8

Ecclesiastes 12:8 - “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Everything is meaningless!” Click to read the verse Ecclesiastes 12:8 Click to read the verse Ecclesiastes 12:8

Ecclesiastes 3:16 - And I saw something else under the sun: In the place of judgment—wickedness was there, in the p... Click to read the verse Ecclesiastes 3:16 Click to read the verse Ecclesiastes 3:16

Ecclesiastes 4:16 - There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not plea... Click to read the verse Ecclesiastes 4:16 Click to read the verse Ecclesiastes 4:16

Ecclesiastes 4:3 - But better than both is he who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil that is done under t... Click to read the verse Ecclesiastes 4:3 Click to read the verse Ecclesiastes 4:3

Ecclesiastes 4:2 - And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still ... Click to read the verse Ecclesiastes 4:2 Click to read the verse Ecclesiastes 4:2

Philippians 1:23-25 - I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; Click to read the verse Philippians 1:23-25 Click to read the verse Philippians 1:23-25

Habakkuk 1:3 - Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are b... Click to read the verse Habakkuk 1:3 Click to read the verse Habakkuk 1:3