Ecclesiastes 2:24-26
New Catholic Bible
24 The Happiness of Simple Things.[a] There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and to experience pleasure in his achievements. And I also came to realize that this too comes from God’s hand. 25 For without him who could eat or drink?
26 God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to those who please him, but to sinners he gives the task of gathering and amassing wealth that is to be given to someone who pleases him. This also is vanity and a chase after the wind.[b]
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- Ecclesiastes 2:24 The acknowledgment that life is a gift frees us from the deception of time that flies, and this happiness suffices for the ancient sages; Qoheleth is appreciative of this simple happiness, for he knows that true happiness is found only in acknowledging and revering God (Eccl 12:13).
- Ecclesiastes 2:26 Qoheleth finds fault with the teaching of the sages concerning the problem of the wicked who prosper (see Job 27:16-17; Prov 11:8; 13:22). For him, this teaching about divine justice does not seem to be borne out by facts.
Ecclesiastes 2:24-26
King James Version
24 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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Ecclesiastes 2:24-26
New King James Version
24 (A)Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, [a]more than I? 26 For God gives (B)wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that (C)he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
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- Ecclesiastes 2:25 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; some Heb. mss., LXX, Syr. without Him
Ecclesiastes 2:24-26
English Standard Version
24 (A)There is nothing better for a person than that he should (B)eat and drink and find enjoyment[a] in his toil. This also, I saw, is (C)from the hand of God, 25 for apart from him[b] who can eat or who can have enjoyment? 26 For to the one who pleases him (D)God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given (E)the business of gathering and collecting, (F)only to give to one who pleases God. (G)This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
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- Ecclesiastes 2:24 Or and make his soul see good
- Ecclesiastes 2:25 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts apart from me
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
