There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
There's no end to all the people—all those who came before and all those who will come after. Yet even the people who come later won't be happy with him either. This too is meaningless and deeply frustrating.
The writer is saying that even popular leaders will eventually be forgotten and replaced, showing how fleeting human fame and approval really are.
📚 Historical Context
Solomon is reflecting on the cycles of leadership and popularity he observed in ancient kingdoms. He had likely seen many rulers rise to power with great fanfare, only to later fall from favor or be forgotten by future generations. This verse concludes his observation about a poor but wise youth who rises to replace an old, foolish king, yet even this new leader's success proves temporary.
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