Ecclesiastes 2:17 “So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was griev…”

Ecclesiastes 2:17

So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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.

World English Bible

So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

American Standard Version

So I hated life, because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me; for all is vanity and a striving after wind.

Geneva Bible 1599

Therefore I hated life: for the worke that is wrought vnder the sunne is grieuous vnto me: for all is vanitie, and vexation of the spirit.

Darby Translation

And I hated life; for the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me; for all is vanity and pursuit of the wind.

Young's Literal Translation

And I have hated life, for sad to me [is] the work that hath been done under the sun, for the whole [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.

Bible in Basic English

So I was hating life, because everything under the sun was evil to me: all is to no purpose and desire for wind.

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Cross references

“I hated”

Jonah 4:8 Numbers 11:15 1 Kings 19:4 Job 3:20–22 Job 14:13 Jeremiah 20:14–18

Jonah 4:8 · BSB

As the sun was rising, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint and wished to die, saying, “It is better for me to die than to live.”

Numbers 11:15 · BSB

If this is how You are going to treat me, please kill me right now—if I have found favor in Your eyes—and let me not see my own wretchedness.”

1 Kings 19:4 · BSB

while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”

Job 3:20–22 · BSB

Why is light given to the miserable, and life to the bitter of soul,

Job 14:13 · BSB

If only You would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until Your anger has passed! If only You would appoint a time for me and then remember me!

Jeremiah 20:14–18 · BSB

Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me never be blessed.

“work”

Ecclesiastes 1:14 Ecclesiastes 3:16 Ezekiel 3:14 Habakkuk 1:3

Ecclesiastes 1:14 · BSB

I have seen all the things that are done under the sun, and have found them all to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.

Ecclesiastes 3:16 · BSB

Furthermore, I saw under the sun that in the place of judgment there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness.

Ezekiel 3:14 · BSB

So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD upon me.

Habakkuk 1:3 · BSB

Why do You make me see iniquity? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict abounds.

“for”

Ecclesiastes 2:11 Ecclesiastes 2:22 Ecclesiastes 6:9 Psalm 89:47

Ecclesiastes 2:11 · BSB

Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:22 · BSB

For what does a man get for all the toil and striving with which he labors under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 6:9 · BSB

Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

Psalm 89:47 · BSB

Remember the briefness of my lifespan! For what futility You have created all men!

Also

Ecclesiastes 4:2

Ecclesiastes 4:2 · BSB

So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

16For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, just as with the fool, seeing that both will be forgotten in the days to come. Alas, the wise man will die just like the fool!

18I hated all for which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me.

Read Ecclesiastes 2