Ecclesiastes 2:21 in Other Translations
King James Version (KJV)
For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
American Standard Version (ASV)
For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet to a man that hath not labored therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
Bible in Basic English (BBE)
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.
Darby English Bible (DBY)
For there is a man whose labour hath been with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skill, and who leaveth it to a man that hath not laboured therein, to be his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
World English Bible (WEB)
For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, with knowledge, and with skillfulness; yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
For there is a man whose labour `is' in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity, and to a man who hath not laboured therein he giveth it -- his portion! Even this `is' vanity and a great evil.
| For | כִּי | kî | kee |
| there is | יֵ֣שׁ | yēš | yaysh |
| a man | אָדָ֗ם | ʾādām | ah-DAHM |
| labour whose | שֶׁעֲמָל֛וֹ | šeʿămālô | sheh-uh-ma-LOH |
| is in wisdom, | בְּחָכְמָ֥ה | bĕḥokmâ | beh-hoke-MA |
| knowledge, in and | וּבְדַ֖עַת | ûbĕdaʿat | oo-veh-DA-at |
| and in equity; | וּבְכִשְׁר֑וֹן | ûbĕkišrôn | oo-veh-heesh-RONE |
| yet to a man | וּלְאָדָ֞ם | ûlĕʾādām | oo-leh-ah-DAHM |
| not hath that | שֶׁלֹּ֤א | šellōʾ | sheh-LOH |
| laboured | עָֽמַל | ʿāmal | AH-mahl |
| therein shall he leave | בּוֹ֙ | bô | boh |
| portion. his for it | יִתְּנֶ֣נּוּ | yittĕnennû | yee-teh-NEH-noo |
| This | חֶלְק֔וֹ | ḥelqô | hel-KOH |
| also | גַּם | gam | ɡahm |
| vanity is | זֶ֥ה | ze | zeh |
| and a great | הֶ֖בֶל | hebel | HEH-vel |
| evil. | וְרָעָ֥ה | wĕrāʿâ | veh-ra-AH |
| רַבָּֽה׃ | rabbâ | ra-BA |