2:18-20 — Despair: Others Inherit What You Worked For
18And so I hated all my labor that I labored at under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me. 19And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will rule over all of my labor that I have labored at and in which I have been wise under the sun. This also is pointless. 20So I turned about and gave my heart over to despair concerning all the labor that I had labored at under the sun.
2:21-23 —Problem: The Injustice and Frustration of Work
21For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, with knowledge, and with skill, yet he must leave his portion to a man who has not labored for it. This also is pointless and a great evil. 22For what does a person get from all his labor—and from the stress of his heart—that he labors at under the sun? 23For all his days are pain and his business is frustrating; yes, even at night his heart does not rest. This also is pointless.
2:24-26 — Conclusion: Just Enjoy the Fruit of Your Labor
24There is nothing better for a person 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, 25for who can eat or who can have enjoyment apart from him? 26For to the one who pleases him, God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to the one who pleases God. This also is pointless and herding the wind.
