Ecclesiastes 3:12
10 I have seen the burden that God has laid upon the sons of men to occupy them.
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work that God has done from beginning to end.
I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good while they live,
13 and also that every man should eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his labor—this is the gift of God.
14 I know that everything God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God does it so that they should fear Him.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good while they live,
- KJV
- I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
- WEB
- I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live.
- ASV
- I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to do good so long as they live.
- DARBY
- I know that there is nothing good for them but to rejoice and to do well in their life;
- BLB
- I know that there is nothing good for them, but than to rejoice and to do good during their lives,
- ÅB
- Jeg skjønte at de intet annet gode har enn å glede seg og å gjøre seg til gode i livet;
- OTB
- Jeg vet at det ikke er noe bedre for mennesker enn å glede seg og gjøre godt i livet.
- B1930
- Jeg skjønte at de intet annet gode har enn å glede sig og å gjøre sig til gode i livet;
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Psalms 37:3
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 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?
Read in context1 Timothy 6:18
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,
Read in context1 Thessalonians 5:15–16
Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.
Read in contextActs 20:35
In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Read in contextPhilippians 4:4–9
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Read in contextLuke 11:41
But give as alms the things that are within you, and you will see that everything is clean for you.
Read in contextIsaiah 64:5
You welcome those who gladly do right, who remember Your ways. Surely You were angry, for we sinned. How can we be saved if we remain in our sins?
Read in context