Key Verse Spotlight
Ecclesiastes 2:22 - Meaning and Application
Understand how this verse speaks to what you're facing and how to apply it today
Translation: World English Bible — Catholic Edition
" For what does a man have of all his labor and of the striving of his heart, in which he labors under the sun? "
Ecclesiastes 2:22
Verse in Context
Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:
20 Therefore I began to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor in which I had labored under the sun.
21 For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, with knowledge, and with skillfulness; yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.
22 For what does a man have of all his labor and of the striving of his heart, in which he labors under the sun?
23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.
24 There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.
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Ecclesiastes 2:1
"I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure;” and behold, this also was vanity."
Ecclesiastes 2:2
"I said of laughter, “It is foolishness;” and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?”"
Ecclesiastes 2:3
"I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives."
Ecclesiastes 2:4
"I made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards."
Ecclesiastes 2:5
"I made myself gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit."
Ecclesiastes 2:6
"I made myself pools of water, to water the forest where trees were grown."
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