Ecclesiastes 2:17
“So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.”
What does Ecclesiastes 2:17 mean?
The author of Ecclesiastes is expressing the deep despair that comes when you pour yourself into work and achievement, only to realize none of it ultimately matters or lasts. Everything we chase in this world—money, status, accomplishments—eventually turns to dust, leaving us empty. He's not saying life itself is worthless, but rather that building your entire sense of meaning on temporary, earthly pursuits is soul-crushing. This honest cry of frustration might resonate especially if you're exhausted by the endless treadmill of striving, or if success hasn't filled the emptiness you expected it would.