Ecclesiastes 2:17
New International Version
So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

New Living Translation
So I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is so troubling. Everything is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

English Standard Version
So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind.

Berean Standard Bible
So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

King James Bible
Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

New King James Version
Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind.

New American Standard Bible
So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was unhappy to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind.

NASB 1995
So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was grievous to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind.

NASB 1977
So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was grievous to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind.

Legacy Standard Bible
So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was grievous to me; because everything is vanity and striving after wind.

Amplified Bible
So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun caused me only great sorrow; because all is futility and chasing after the wind.

Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

American Standard Version
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.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And I hated life because the work that is done under the sun is evil to me, because everything is futility and agitation of spirit

Brenton Septuagint Translation
So I hated life; because the work that was wrought under the sun was evil before me: for all is vanity and waywardness of spirit.

Contemporary English Version
This made me hate life. Everything we do is painful; it's just as senseless as chasing the wind.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And therefore I was weary of my life, when I saw that all things under the sun are evil, and all vanity and vexation of spirit.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So I came to hate life because everything done under the sun seemed wrong to me. Everything was pointless. [It was like] trying to catch the wind.

Good News Translation
So life came to mean nothing to me, because everything in it had brought me nothing but trouble. It had all been useless; I had been chasing the wind.

International Standard Version
So I hated life, because whatever is done on earth causes me trouble—it's all pointless, like chasing after the wind.

JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Literal Standard Version
And I have hated life, for sad to me [is] the work that has been done under the sun, for the whole [is] vanity and distress of spirit.

Majority Standard Bible
So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

New American Bible
Therefore I detested life, since for me the work that is done under the sun is bad; for all is vanity and a chase after wind.

NET Bible
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.

New Revised Standard Version
So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

New Heart English Bible
So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous to me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

World English Bible
So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Young's Literal Translation
And I have hated life, for sad to me is the work that hath been done under the sun, for the whole is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Wise and the Foolish
16For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, just as with the fool, seeing that both will be forgotten in the days to come. Alas, the wise man will die just like the fool! 17So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

Cross References
Ecclesiastes 1:14
I have seen all the things that are done under the sun, and have found them all to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:17
So I set my mind to know wisdom and madness and folly; I learned that this, too, is a pursuit of the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:2
So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.

Ecclesiastes 4:3
But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.


Treasury of Scripture

Therefore I hated life; because the work that is worked under the sun is grievous to me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

i hated

Numbers 11:15
And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.

1 Kings 19:4
But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

Job 3:20-22
Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul; …

work

Ecclesiastes 1:14
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 3:16
And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.

Ezekiel 3:14
So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.

for

Ecclesiastes 2:11,22
Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun…

Ecclesiastes 6:9
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

Psalm 89:47
Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?

Jump to Previous
Chasing Evil Futility Grievous Hated Hating Life Meaningless Purpose Pursuit Sad Spirit Striving Sun Vanity Vexation Whole Wind Work Worked Wrought
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Chasing Evil Futility Grievous Hated Hating Life Meaningless Purpose Pursuit Sad Spirit Striving Sun Vanity Vexation Whole Wind Work Worked Wrought
Ecclesiastes 2
1. the vanity of human courses is the work of pleasure
12. Though the wise be better than the fool, yet both have one event
18. The vanity of human labor, in leaving it they know not to whom
24. Nothing better than joy in our labor but that is God's gift














(17) Is grievous.--Rather, was.

Verse 17. - Therefore I hated life; et idcirce taeduit me vitae meae. Be a man wise or foolish, his life leads only to one end and is soon forgotten; hence life itself is burdensome and hateful. The bitter complaint of Job (Job 3:20, etc.; Job 6:8, 9) is here echoed, though the words do not point to suicide as the solution of the riddle. It is the ennui and unprofitableness of all life and action in view of the inevitable conclusion, which is here lamented. Because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me; literally, for evil unto me (Esther 3:9) is the work which is done under the sun. The toil and exertions of men pressed upon him like a burden too heavy for him to bear. Symmachus, Κακόν μοι ἐφάνη τὸ ἔργον; Septuagint, Πονηρὸν ἐπ ἐμὲ τὸ ποίημα κ.τ.λ.. He repeats the expression, "under the sun," as if to show that he was regarding human labor only in its earthly aspect, undertaken and executed for temporal and selfish considerations alone. The apostle teaches a 'better lesson, and the worker who adopts his rule is saved from this crushing disappointment: "Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance: ye serve the Lord Christ" (Colossians 3:23, 24). For all is vanity. He comes back to the same miserable refrain; it is all emptiness, striving after wind.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So I hated
וְשָׂנֵ֙אתִי֙ (wə·śā·nê·ṯî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 8130: To hate

life,
הַ֣חַיִּ֔ים (ha·ḥay·yîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

because
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the work
הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה (ham·ma·‘ă·śeh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4639: An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property

that is done
שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂ֖ה (šen·na·‘ă·śāh)
Pronoun - relative | Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

under
תַּ֣חַת (ta·ḥaṯ)
Preposition
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

the sun
הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ (haš·šā·meš)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 8121: The sun, the east, a ray, a notched battlement

was grievous
רַ֤ע (ra‘)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

to me.
עָלַי֙ (‘ā·lay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

For
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

everything
הַכֹּ֥ל (hak·kōl)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

is futile
הֶ֖בֶל (he·ḇel)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1892: Emptiness, vanity, transitory, unsatisfactory

and a pursuit
וּרְע֥וּת (ū·rə·‘ūṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 7469: A feeding upon, grasping after

of the wind.
רֽוּחַ׃ (rū·aḥ)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit


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OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 2:17 So I hated life because the work (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.)
Ecclesiastes 2:16
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