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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.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

Behold, that which I have seen to be good and to be comely is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, wherein he laboreth under the sun, all the days of his life which God hath given him: for this is his portion.

KJV

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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Commentary

3 voices

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

26 tagged words
OriginalTransliterationMeaningWord study
הִנֵּ֞הhi.Nehhere!H2009 →
אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-[that] whichH834 →
רָאִ֣יתִיra.'I.tiI have seenH7200 →
אָ֗נִי'A.niIH589 →
ט֣וֹבTov[to be] goodH2896 →
אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-[that] whichH834 →
יָפֶ֣הya.Peh[is] beautifulH3303 →
לֶֽאֶכוֹל־le.'e.khol-[is] to eatH398 →
וְ֠לִשְׁתּוֹתVe.lish.totand to drinkH8354 →
וְלִרְא֨וֹתve.lir.'otand to seeH7200 →
טוֹבָ֜הto.VahgoodH2896 →
בְּכָל־be.kholin allH3605 →
עֲמָל֣וֹ׀a.ma.Lotoil hisH5999 →
שֶׁיַּעֲמֹ֣לshei.ya.'a.Molthat someone will toilH5998 →
תַּֽחַת־ta.chat-underH8478 →
הַשֶּׁ֗מֶשׁha.She.meshthe sunH8121 →
מִסְפַּ֧רmis.Par[the] number ofH4557 →
יְמֵי־ye.mei-[the] days ofH3117 →
חַיָּ֛יוchai.yavlife hisH2416 →
אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-whichH834 →
נָֽתַן־na.tan-he has givenH5414 →
ל֥וֹloto <the> him
הָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.Him<the> GodH430 →
כִּי־ki-forH3588 →
ה֥וּאhu'thatH1931 →
חֶלְקֽוֹ׃chel.Ko[is] portion hisH2506 →

The walk

Related verses

16 strongest cross-references

The gold bar shows how strongly the cross-reference sources tie the two verses together: a long bar means many compiled references make the connection, a short one means few.

Ecclesiastes 2:24Nothing 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.Nehemiah 8:10Then Nehemiah told them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”Ecclesiastes 3:12–13I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good while they live,Ecclesiastes 3:22I 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?Ecclesiastes 9:7Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already approved your works:1 Timothy 6:17Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy.Ecclesiastes 2:10Anything 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.Ecclesiastes 8:15So I commended the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be merry. For this joy will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.Ecclesiastes 11:9Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.1 Timothy 4:3They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.Ecclesiastes 9:9Enjoy 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.Jeremiah 52:34And the king of Babylon provided Jehoiachin a daily portion for the rest of his life, until the day of his death.Ecclesiastes 6:9Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.Ecclesiastes 1:3What does a man gain from all his labor, at which he toils under the sun?Genesis 48:15Then he blessed Joseph and said: “May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,Ecclesiastes 2:18I hated all for which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me.

Featured studies on this passage

Still-Life with a Skull (Vanitas) — Philippe de Champaigne

On Ecclesiastes 5:18

Vanity Under the Sun — Ecclesiastes

Named a comely thing, and the power to enjoy it named as God's own gift on top of the wealth itself : two gifts, not one.

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About Ecclesiastes

King Solomon in Old Age — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
King Solomon in Old Age — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
Ecclesiastes: the study guide →Read chapter 5 →The featured study →
Continue: Ecclesiastes 5 →