16. For the wise and the foolish both die. The wise will not be remembered any longer than the fool. In the days to come, both will be forgotten.
17. So I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is so troubling. Everything is meaningless—like chasing the wind.
18. I came to hate all my hard work here on earth, for I must leave to others everything I have earned.
19. And who can tell whether my successors will be wise or foolish? Yet they will control everything I have gained by my skill and hard work under the sun. How meaningless!
20. So I gave up in despair, questioning the value of all my hard work in this world.