15. So I thought to myself, “The fate of the fool will happen even to me!Then what did I gain by becoming so excessively wise?”So I lamented to myself,“The benefits of wisdom are ultimately meaningless!”
16. For the wise man, like the fool, will not be remembered for very long,because in the days to come, both will already have been forgotten.Alas, the wise man dies – just like the fool!
17. So I loathed life because what happens on earth seems awful to me;for all the benefits of wisdom are futile – like chasing the wind.
18. So I loathed all the fruit of my effort,for which I worked so hard on earth,because I must leave it behind in the hands of my successor.
19. Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool?Yet he will be master over all the fruit of my laborfor which I worked so wisely on earth!This also is futile!
20. So I began to despair about all the fruit of my laborfor which I worked so hard on earth.
21. For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill;however, he must hand over the fruit of his labor as an inheritanceto someone else who did not work for it.This also is futile, and an awful injustice!
22. What does a man acquire from all his laborand from the anxiety that accompanies his toil on earth?
23. For all day long his work produces pain and frustration,and even at night his mind cannot relax!This also is futile!
24. There is nothing better for people than to eat and drink,and to find enjoyment in their work.I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment comes from God.
25. For no one can eat and drinkor experience joy apart from him.
26. For to the one who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy,but to the sinner, he gives the task of amassing wealth – only to give it to the one who pleases God.This task of the wicked is futile – like chasing the wind!