Ecclesiastes 2:26
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.
25 For apart from Him, who can eat and who can find enjoyment?
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
- 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.
- KJV
- 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.
- WEB
- For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
- ASV
- For to the man that pleaseth him [God] giveth 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 pleaseth God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
- DARBY
- For he 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 in God's sight. This also is vanity and pursuit of the wind.
- BLB
- For to the man who [is] good in His eyes, He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; and to the sinner He gives the task to gather and to heap up, to give to the good before the face of God. This also [is] vapor, and a striving after the wind.
- ÅB
- For det menneske som tekkes ham, gir han visdom og kunnskap og glede; men synderen gir han den umak å sanke og samle for å gi til den som tekkes Gud; også dette er tomhet og jag etter vind.
- OTB
- Til den som behager Ham, gir Gud visdom, kunnskap og lykke, men til synderen gir Han oppgaven med å samle og lagre rikdom for å overlevere den til den som behager Gud. Også dette er meningsløst, et jag etter vind.
- B1930
- For det menneske som tekkes ham, gir han visdom og kunnskap og glede; men synderen gir han den umak å sanke og samle for å gi til den som tekkes Gud; også dette er tomhet og jag efter vind.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Proverbs 13:22
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous.
Read in contextJob 27:16–17
Though he heaps up silver like dust and piles up a wardrobe like clay,
Read in contextProverbs 28:8
He who increases his wealth by interest and usury lays it up for one who is kind to the poor.
Read in contextJohn 16:24
Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
Read in contextIsaiah 3:10–11
Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor.
Read in contextProverbs 3:13–18
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding,
Read in context2 Chronicles 31:20–21
So this is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah. He did what was good and upright and true before the LORD his God.
Read in contextColossians 3:16–17
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Read in context