^{16 Ref} Of the wise man, as of the foolish man, there is no memory for ever, seeing that those who now are will have gone from memory in the days to come. See how death comes to the wise as to the foolish!

^{17 Ref} So I was hating life, because everything under the sun was evil to me: all is to no purpose and desire for wind.

^{18 Ref} Hate had I for all my work which I had done, because the man who comes after me will have its fruits.

^{19 Ref} And who is to say if that man will be wise or foolish? But he will have power over all my work which I have done and in which I have been wise under the sun. This again is to no purpose.

^{20 Ref} So my mind was turned to grief for all the trouble I had taken and all my wisdom under the sun.

^{21 Ref} Because there is a man whose work has been done with wisdom, with knowledge, and with an expert hand; but one who has done nothing for it will have it for his heritage. This again is to no purpose and a great evil.