Ecclesiastes 2:21
What does Ecclesiastes 2:21 mean?
A plain-English look at Ecclesiastes 2:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet to a man that hath not labored therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet to a man that hath not labored therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Because there is a man whose work has been done with wisdom, with knowledge, and with an expert hand; but one who has done nothing for it will have it for his heritage. This again is to no purpose and a great evil.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862For there is a man whose labour <FI>is<Fi> in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity, and to a man who hath not laboured therein he giveth it--his portion! Even this <FI>is<Fi> vanity and a great evil.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For when a man laboureth in wisdom, and knowledge, and carefulness, he leaveth what he hath gotten to an idle man: so this also is vanity, and a great evil.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For there is a man whose labour hath been with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skill, and who leaveth it to a man that hath not laboured therein, to be his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
Context
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ecclesiastes 2:17
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.
- Jeremiah 22:17
But thine eyes and thy heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for shedding innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.
- 2 Chronicles 36:5
Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah his God.
- Jeremiah 22:15
Shalt thou reign, because thou strivest to excel in cedar? Did not thy father eat and drink, and do justice and righteousness? then it was well with him.
- 2 Chronicles 33:2
And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, after the abominations of the nations whom Jehovah cast out before the children of Israel.
- 2 Chronicles 34:2
And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, and walked in the ways of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.
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