Ecclesiastes 2:25
23 Indeed, all his days are filled with grief, and his task is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile.
24 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.
For apart from Him, who can eat and who can find enjoyment?
26 To the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He assigns the task of gathering and accumulating that which he will hand over to one who pleases God. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- For apart from Him, who can eat and who can find enjoyment?
- KJV
- For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?
- WEB
- For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?
- ASV
- For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?
- DARBY
- For who can eat, or who be eager, more than I?
- BLB
- for who can eat, and who can enjoy, apart from Him?
- ÅB
- for hvem kunne spise og hvem nyte mere enn jeg?
- OTB
- for hvem kan spise eller finne glede utenom Ham?
- B1930
- for hvem kunde ete og hvem nyte mere enn jeg?
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Ecclesiastes 2:1–12
I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!” But it proved to be futile.
Read in context