The gift of God does not make this meaninglessness go away; the gift of God makes this vanity enjoyable. But in the meantime, Look, we are told, at the boneheads to come. Because the wise die, they must leave what they have done to others. And will they be wise? Who knows? The result is distress (v. 17), despair (v. 20), sorrow (v. 23), burdens (v. 23), and restlessness (v. 23). Solomon turns his heart to this despair (v. 20). He despairs of any way out under the sun. Just as he gave himself to pleasure before, so now he gives way to despair.
