Ecclesiastes 2:22

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Ecclesiastes 2:20–24 · Berean Standard Bible

20 So my heart began to despair over all the labor that I had done under the sun.

21 When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and he must give his portion to a man who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great evil.

22 For what does a man get for all the toil and striving with which he labors under the sun?

23 Indeed, all his days are filled with grief, and his task is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile.

24 Nothing is better for a man than to eat and drink and enjoy his work. I have also seen that this is from the hand of God.

Hebrew words

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

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Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

Ecclesiastes 1:3

What does a man gain from all his labor, at which he toils under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 3:9

What does the worker gain from his toil?

Ecclesiastes 5:10

He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile.

Ecclesiastes 5:11

When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes?

Ecclesiastes 5:17

Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness, with much sorrow, sickness, and anger.

Ecclesiastes 6:7

All a man’s labor is for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied.

Ecclesiastes 6:8

What advantage, then, has the wise man over the fool? What gain comes to the poor man who knows how to conduct himself before others?

Ecclesiastes 8:15

So I commended the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be merry. For this joy will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.

Proverbs 16:26

A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger drives him onward.

1 Timothy 6:8

But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.

Ecclesiastes 4:6

Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:8

There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.

Psalms 127:2

In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat— for He gives sleep to His beloved.

Matthew 6:11

Give us this day our daily bread.

Matthew 6:25

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

Matthew 6:34

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 16:26

What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Luke 12:22

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.

Luke 12:29

And do not be concerned about what you will eat or drink. Do not worry about it.

Philippians 4:6

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.