Ecclesiastes 2:20 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

So I began to let my heart lose hope about all the work I had done in this life.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

The writer is describing how he allowed himself to feel despair about all his earthly achievements and efforts.

📚 Historical Context

King Solomon, traditionally considered the author of Ecclesiastes, is reflecting on his vast accomplishments as Israel's wisest and wealthiest king. After building the temple, expanding the kingdom, and accumulating unprecedented wisdom and riches, he realized that all his earthly labor ultimately felt meaningless. This verse comes in the middle of his exploration of life's apparent futility when viewed purely from a human perspective.

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