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Ecclesiastes 2:24

JoyWorkContentmentGratitude

22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?

23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.

25 For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?

26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

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

Compare

BSB
Nothing is better for a man than to eat and drink and enjoy his work. I have also seen that this is from the hand of God.
KJV
There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
WEB
There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.
ASV
There is nothing better for a man [than] that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.
DARBY
There is nothing good for man, but that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
BLB
Nothing [is] better for the man than to eat and drink, and his soul to see good in his toil. This also I saw, that it [is] from the hand of God;
ÅB
Er det ikke et gode for mennesket at han kan spise og drikke og unne seg gode dager til gjengjeld for sitt strev? Men jeg så at også dette kommer fra Guds hånd;
OTB
Det er ingenting bedre for en person enn å spise, drikke og finne tilfredsstillelse i sitt strev. Også dette, ser jeg, er fra Guds hånd,
B1930
Er det ikke et gode for mennesket at han kan ete og drikke og unne sig gode dager til gjengjeld for sitt strev? Men jeg så at også dette kommer fra Guds hånd;

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Ecclesiastes 3:22

    Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

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  • 1 Timothy 6:17

    Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

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  • Ecclesiastes 8:15

    Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.

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  • Ecclesiastes 3:12–13

    I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

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  • Ecclesiastes 5:18–19

    Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.

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  • Ecclesiastes 9:7–9

    Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.

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  • 1 Corinthians 15:32

    If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

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  • Deuteronomy 12:18

    But thou must eat them before the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto.

    Read in context