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Ecclesiastes 2:10

Money and wealthJoyWork

8 and I accumulated for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered to myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men—many concubines.

9 So I became great and surpassed all in Jerusalem who had preceded me; and my wisdom remained with me.

Anything my eyes desired, I did not deny myself. I refused my heart no pleasure. For my heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.

11 Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

12 Then I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what more can the king’s successor do than what has already been accomplished?

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Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Anything my eyes desired, I did not deny myself. I refused my heart no pleasure. For my heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.
KJV
And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
WEB
Whatever my eyes desired, I didn’t keep from them. I didn’t withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor.
ASV
And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor; and this was my portion from all my labor.
DARBY
And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them: I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour, and this was my portion from all my labour.
BLB
And all that my eyes asked, I did not lay aside from them; I did not withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced in all my toil—and this was my portion from all my toil.
ÅB
Alt det mine øyne attrådde, det forholdt jeg dem ikke, jeg nektet ikke mitt hjerte noen glede; for mitt hjerte hadde glede av alt mitt strev, og dette var det jeg hadde igjen for alt mitt strev.
OTB
Jeg nektet ikke mine øyne noe de ønsket; jeg holdt ingen glede tilbake fra mitt hjerte. Mitt hjerte gledet seg i alt mitt arbeid, og dette var belønningen for alt mitt strev.
B1930
Alt det mine øine attrådde, det forholdt jeg dem ikke, jeg nektet ikke mitt hjerte nogen glede; for mitt hjerte hadde glede av alt mitt strev, og dette var det jeg hadde igjen for alt mitt strev.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Ecclesiastes 9:9

    Enjoy life with your beloved wife all the days of the fleeting life that God has given you under the sun—all your fleeting days. For this is your portion in life and in your labor under the sun.

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  • Ecclesiastes 5:18

    Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of life that God has given him—for this is his lot.

    Read in context

  • Ecclesiastes 3:22

    I have seen that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will come after him?

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  • Psalms 119:37

    Turn my eyes away from worthless things; revive me with Your word.

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  • Psalms 128:2

    For when you eat the fruit of your labor, blessings and prosperity will be yours.

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  • Ecclesiastes 2:22

    For what does a man get for all the toil and striving with which he labors under the sun?

    Read in context

  • 1 John 2:16

    For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.

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  • Proverbs 23:5

    When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.

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