17 So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
17 So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind.
17 I hate life. As far as I can see, what happens on earth is a bad business. It's smoke - and spitting into the wind.
17 Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind.
17 So I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is so troubling. Everything is meaningless-like chasing the wind.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:17
Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:12-17
(Read Ecclesiastes 2:12-17)
Solomon found that knowledge and prudence were preferable to ignorance and folly, though human wisdom and knowledge will not make a man happy. The most learned of men, who dies a stranger to Christ Jesus, will perish equally with the most ignorant; and what good can commendations on earth do to the body in the grave, or the soul in hell? And the spirits of just men made perfect cannot want them. So that if this were all, we might be led to hate our life, as it is all vanity and vexation of spirit.