2:21a 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,
Because often people work wisely, they are smart and they succeed. But they ⌊also⌋ have to leave all their possessions to people who have not earned them.
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When we use our wisdom, knowledge, and skill to get what we own, why do we have to leave it to someone who didn’t work for it? (Contemporary English Version)
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Here is someone who had worked hard with wisdom, knowledge, and skill. (God’s Word) Yet, ⌊when he dies⌋ he must leave all he has accomplished to someone else, who didn’t work for it.
2:21b this too is futile and a great evil
This is also pointless and very wrong.
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This also has no purpose. It only brings trouble. (EEB)
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This too makes no sense and it is very distressing/evil.
2:21a-b (combined)
Some people are very wise and clever. They use their knowledge to provide good things for themselves. But after they die, someone else will have all their things. Their good things will belong to someone who did not have to work to get them. This also has no purpose. It only brings trouble. (EEB)
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A man may know how to do his job well. He may do his work well and after that, he dies. Then all that he had will become another man’s things. And that man will not have worked for it. This too means nothing and it is very sad. (EASY2015)
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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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