Ecclesiastes 2:1 (ESV)

Ecclesiastes 2:21 - because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.

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Translations for Ecclesiastes 2:21

KJVKJV (read chapter in KJV)

For 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.

NKJVNKJV (read chapter in NKJV)

For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; yet he must leave his heritage to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.

NLTNLT (read chapter in NLT)

Some people work wisely with knowledge and skill, then must leave the fruit of their efforts to someone who hasn’t worked for it. This, too, is meaningless, a great tragedy.

NIVNIV (read chapter in NIV)

For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.

ESVESV (read chapter in ESV)

because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.

CSBCSB (read chapter in CSB)

When there is a person whose work was done with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and he must give his portion to a person who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great wrong.

NASB20NASB20 (read chapter in NASB20)

When there is a person who has labored with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and then gives his [fn]legacy to one who has not labored for it; this too is futility and a great evil.

NASB95NASB95 (read chapter in NASB95)

When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge and skill, then he gives his [fn]legacy to one who has not labored with them. This too is vanity and a great evil.

LSBLSB (read chapter in LSB)

When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, then he gives his portion to one who has not labored with them. This too is vanity and a great evil.

AMPAMP (read chapter in AMP)

For there is a man who has labored with wisdom and knowledge and skill, yet gives his legacy to one who has not labored for it. This too is vanity and a great evil.

NETNET (read chapter in NET)

For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; however, he must hand over the fruit of his labor as an inheritance to someone else who did not work for it. This also is futile, and an awful injustice!

RSVRSV (read chapter in RSV)

because sometimes a man who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by a man who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.

ASVASV (read chapter in ASV)

For 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.

YLTYLT (read chapter in YLT)

For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity, and to a man who hath not laboured therein he giveth it -- his portion! Even this is vanity and a great evil.

DBYDBY (read chapter in DBY)

For 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.

WEBWEB (read chapter in WEB)

For there is a man whose labor is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not labored in it, shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.

HNVHNV (read chapter in HNV)

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.

VULVUL (read chapter in VUL)

nam cum alius laboret in sapientia et doctrina et sollicitudine homini otioso quaesita dimittit et hoc ergo vanitas et magnum malum

NAVNAV (read chapter in NAV)

إِذْ قَدْ يَتْرُكُ الإِنْسَانُ كُلَّ مَا تَعِبَ فِيهِ بِحِكْمَةٍ وَمَعْرِفَةٍ وَحَذَاقَةٍ لِرَجُلٍ آخَرَ يَتَمَتَّعُ بِمَا لَمْ يَشْقَ بِهِ. هَذَا أَيْضاً بَاطِلٌ وَشَرٌّ عَظِيمٌ.

WLCWLC (read chapter in WLC)

כִּי־יֵ֣שׁ אָדָ֗ם שֶׁעֲמָל֛וֹ בְּחָכְמָ֥ה וּבְדַ֖עַת וּבְכִשְׁר֑וֹן וּלְאָדָ֞ם שֶׁלֹּ֤א עָֽמַל־בּוֹ֙ יִתְּנֶ֣נּוּ חֶלְק֔וֹ גַּם־זֶ֥ה הֶ֖בֶל וְרָעָ֥ה רַבָּֽה׃

LXXLXX (read chapter in LXX)

ὅτι ἔστιν ἄνθρωπος οὗ μόχθος αὐτοῦ ἐν σοφίᾳ καὶ ἐν γνώσει καὶ ἐν ἀνδρείᾳ καὶ ἄνθρωπος ὃς οὐκ ἐμόχθησεν ἐν αὐτῷ δώσει αὐτῷ μερίδα αὐτοῦ καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ πονηρία μεγάλη

SVDSVD (read chapter in SVD)

لأَنَّهُ قَدْ يَكُونُ إِنْسَانٌ تَعَبُهُ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَعْرِفَةِ وَبِالْفَلاَحِ، فَيَتْرُكُهُ نَصِيبًا لإِنْسَانٍ لَمْ يَتْعَبْ فِيهِ. هذَا أَيْضًا بَاطِلٌ وَشَرٌّ عَظِيمٌ.

BESBES (read chapter in BES)

For there is such a man that his labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in fortitude; yet this man shall give his portion to one who has not laboured therein. This is also vanity and great evil.

RVR09RVR09 (read chapter in RVR09)

¡Que el hombre trabaje con sabiduría, y con ciencia, y con rectitud, y que haya de dar su hacienda á hombre que nunca trabajó en ello! También es esto vanidad y mal grande.

RVR60RVR60 (read chapter in RVR60)

¡Que el hombre trabaje con sabiduría, y con ciencia y con rectitud, y que haya de dar su hacienda a hombre que nunca trabajó en ello! También es esto vanidad y mal grande.

BBEBBE (read chapter in BBE)

Because 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.

CHTCHT (read chapter in CHT)

因為有人用智慧知識靈巧所勞碌得來的、卻要留給未曾勞碌的人為分．這也是虛空、也是大患。

EMEM (read chapter in EM)

Porque se da el caso del hombre que habiéndose afanado con sabiduría, con conocimiento y con talento, deja sus bienes a otro hombre que jamás se afanó en ello. También esto es vanidad y un mal grande.

KORKOR (read chapter in KOR)

어떤 사람은 그 지혜와 지식과 재주를 써서 수고하였어도 그 얻은 것을 수고하지 아니한 자에게 업으로 끼치리니 이것도 헛된 것이라 큰 해로다

LSLS (read chapter in LS)

Car tel homme a travaillé avec sagesse et science et avec succès, et il laisse le produit de son travail à un homme qui ne s'en est point occupé. C'est encore là une vanité et un grand mal.

LUTLUT (read chapter in LUT)

Denn es muß ein Mensch, der seine Arbeit mit Weisheit, Vernunft und Geschicklichkeit getan hat, sie einem andern zum Erbteil lassen, der nicht daran gearbeitet hat. Das ist auch eitel und ein großes Unglück.

RSTRST (read chapter in RST)

потому что иной человек трудится мудро, с знанием и успехом, и должен отдать всё человеку, не трудившемуся в том, как бы часть его. И это--суета и зло великое!

SESE (read chapter in SE)

¡Que el hombre trabaje con sabiduría, y con ciencia, y con rectitud, y que haya de dar su hacienda a hombre que nunca trabajó en ello! También es esto vanidad y mal grande.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2025 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 — Additional Translations:

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