And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over everything I've worked for and all the wisdom I've gained in this life. This too is meaningless.
The writer is frustrated that all his hard work and wisdom will eventually be passed on to someone else who might be completely foolish and waste it all.
📚 Historical Context
King Solomon is reflecting on the futility of human achievement and wealth accumulation. In ancient times, inheritance typically passed to the eldest son regardless of their character or wisdom, which often led to the squandering of family fortunes. Solomon had witnessed many examples of wise kings being succeeded by foolish heirs who destroyed their fathers' legacies.
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