EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Ecclesiastes 5:18
18But I realized that there is one good thing for people to do. We should be happy to eat and to drink. And we should enjoy the hard work that we do on the earth. That is what God wants us to do during the short time that he has given us on this earth.
Ecclesiastes 5:18 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (NIV)This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage.
Context of Ecclesiastes 5:18
16This is also a terrible thing to happen. People leave this earth with nothing, as they came into it with nothing. All their hard work has been useless, like someone who tries to catch the wind. 17Even if people are rich, they do not enjoy their food. They suffer all through their lives. They are upset, angry and sick. But I realized that there is one good thing for people to do. We should be happy to eat and to drink. And we should enjoy the hard work that we do on the earth. That is what God wants us to do during the short time that he has given us on this earth. 19God gives some people a lot of money and valuable things. He helps them to enjoy those things and to be happy with their work. All of this is a gift from God. 20People like that do not think a lot about what has happened in their lives. God helps them to be happy as they are busy with their work.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 5Ecclesiastes 5:18 word by word
הִנֵּ֞ה אֲשֶׁר־רָאִ֣יתִי אָ֗נִי ט֣וֹב אֲשֶׁר־יָפֶ֣ה לֶֽאֶכוֹל־וְ֠לִשְׁתּוֹת וְלִרְא֨וֹת טוֹבָ֜ה בְּכָל־עֲמָל֣וֹ׀ שֶׁיַּעֲמֹ֣ל תַּֽחַת־הַשֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ מִסְפַּ֧ר יְמֵי־חַיָּ֛יו אֲשֶׁר־נָֽתַן־ל֥וֹ הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים כִּי־ה֥וּא חֶלְקֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- which I have seenרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- goodטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
- and comelyיָפֶהyâpheh · beautifulH3303
- to eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
- and to drinkשָׁתָהshâthâh · to drinkH8354
- and to enjoyרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: enjoyH7200
- the goodטוֹבָהţôb · welfareH2896
- of all his labourעָמָל‛âmâl · troubleH5999
- that he takethעָמַל‛âmal · to toilH5998
- under the sunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁshemesh · sunH8121
- allמִסְפָּרmispâr · numberH4557
- the daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- of his lifeחַיִּיםchay · lifeH2416
- which Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- givethנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- his portionחֵ֫לֶקchêleq · portionH2506
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 5:18
- Ecclesiastes 2:24So I decided what is best for us to do. We should be happy to eat and to drink. And we should enjoy our work. I realized that all these things are gifts from God.
- Ecclesiastes 3:12So I realized that people should be happy. They should enjoy good things as long as they live. There is nothing better for people to do than that.
- Ecclesiastes 8:15So I think that we should enjoy our lives. People should be happy to eat, drink and enjoy their lives. That is the best thing for them to do. It will help them to enjoy the work that they do during their lives. That is the life which God has given them on the earth.
- Ecclesiastes 9:7So be happy as you eat your food. Be happy as you drink your wine. God is pleased with you as you do these things.
- Ecclesiastes 11:9Young people, enjoy your life while you are young. Do the things that you think are good. Enjoy the things that you see. But remember that God will judge you for all the things that you do.
- 1 Timothy 6:17Warn those people who are rich with many things that belong to this world. Tell them not to think that they are more important than other people. They must not think that their money will keep them safe. They could easily lose all of it. Instead, they should trust God. He gives us many things, so that we can enjoy all of them.
- Ecclesiastes 2:10If I saw something that I wanted I took it for myself. If something would give me pleasure, I did it. So all my work made me very happy. My hard work gave me things to enjoy.
- Ecclesiastes 3:22So I realized that people should enjoy the work that they do. That is the best thing for us to do. It is what God has provided for us. I think that is best, because nobody can show us what will finally happen to us.
- Jeremiah 52:34The king of Babylon gave Jehoiachin everything that he needed each day of his life until he died.
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 5:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Behold that which I have seen - This is the result of my observations and experience. God gives every man, in the course of his providence, the necessaries of life; and it is his will that he should thankfully use them. For it is his portion - What is requisite for him in the lower world; without them his life cannot subsist, and earthly blessings are as truly the portion of his body and animal life, as the salvation of God is the portion of his soul.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Rather, Behold what I have seen to be good, it is pleasant for a man to eat. Such thankful enjoyment is inculcated by the Law Deuteronomy 12:7, Deuteronomy 12:18.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-20Verses 18-20 Life is God's gift. We must not view our calling as a drudgery, but take pleasure in the calling where God puts us. A cheerful spirit is a great blessing; it makes employments easy, and afflictions light. Having made a proper use of riches, a man will remember the days of his past life with pleasure. The manner in which Solomon refers to God as the Giver, both of life and its enjoyments, shows they ought to be received and to be used…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-20The advice for enjoying life is clear: Enjoy your food, drink, and work. Appreciate them as gifts from God.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. Returns to the sentiment (Ec 3:12, 13, 22); translate: "Behold the good which I have seen, and which is becoming" (in a man). which God giveth--namely, both the good of his labor and his life. his portion--legitimately. It is God's gift that makes it so when regarded as such. Such a one will use, not abuse, earthly things (1Co 7:31). Opposed to the anxious life of the covetous (Ec 5:10, 17).Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 5:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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