New American Standard Bible 1995
Ecclesiastes 8:15
15So I commended pleasure, for there is nothing good for 1a man under the sun except to eat and to drink and to be merry, and this will stand by him in his 2toils throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 8:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.
- New International Version (NIV)So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So I commended enjoyment, because a man has nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry; for this will remain with him in his labor all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun.
Context of Ecclesiastes 8:15
13But it will not be well for the evil man and he will not lengthen his days like a shadow, because he does not fear God. 14There is futility which is done on the earth, that is, there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked. On the other hand, there are evil men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I say that this too is futility. So I commended pleasure, for there is nothing good for a man under the sun except to eat and to drink and to be merry, and this will stand by him in his toils throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun. 16When I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task which has been done on the earth (even though one should never sleep day or night), 17and I saw every work of God, I concluded that man cannot discover the work which has been done under the sun. Even though man should seek laboriously, he will not discover; and though the wise man should say, “I know,” he cannot discover.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 8Ecclesiastes 8:15 word by word
וְשִׁבַּ֤חְתִּֽי אֲנִי֙ אֶת־הַשִּׂמְחָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֵֽין־ט֤וֹב לָֽאָדָם֙ תַּ֣חַת הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ כִּ֛י אִם־לֶאֱכ֥וֹל וְלִשְׁתּ֖וֹת וְלִשְׂמ֑וֹחַ וְה֞וּא יִלְוֶ֣נּוּ בַעֲמָל֗וֹ יְמֵ֥י חַיָּ֛יו אֲשֶׁר־נָֽתַן־ל֥וֹ הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃Read the interlinear
- So I commendedשָׁבַחshâbach · to praiseH7623
- pleasureשִׂמְחָהώimchâh · joyH8057
- for thereאַ֫יִן'ayin · nothingH369
- goodטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
- a manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
- underתַּחַתtachath · underneath: underH8478
- the sunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁshemesh · sunH8121
- exceptכִּי [אם]kîy · that if: exceptH3588
- except[כִּי] אם'im · if: exceptH518
- to eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
- and to drinkשָׁתָהshâthâh · to drinkH8354
- and to be merryשָׂמַחώâmach · to rejoiceH8055
- and thisהוּאhû' hîy' · he/she/itH1931
- will standלָוָהlâvâh · to joinH3867
- toilsעָמָל‛âmâl · troubleH5999
- the daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- whichאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
- Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- has givenנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 8:15
- Ecclesiastes 2:24There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God.
- Ecclesiastes 3:12I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime;
- Ecclesiastes 5:18Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward.
- Ecclesiastes 9:7Go then, eat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works.
- 1 Timothy 4:3men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.
- 1 Timothy 6:17Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 8:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15Then I commended mirth - These are some more of the cavils of the infidel objector: "Since virtue is frequently under oppression, and vice triumphs in health, and rolls in wealth, I see plainly that we should not trouble ourselves about future things; and therefore should be governed by the maxim Ede, Bibe, Lude. Post mortem nulla voluptas." Eat, drink, and play, While here you may; For soon as death Has stopp'd your breath Ye ne'er shall see a cheerful…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15Mirth - Better, Gladness, or “joy” (as in Ecclesiastes 2:10). The Hebrew word is applied not only to the pleasures arising from the physical senses, but also frequently to religious joy. The sentiment of this verse is a frequent conclusion of the writer‘s personal experience (compare marginal references), and is unfairly charged with Epicureanism. The Preacher is careful to set forth pleasure as a gift from God, to be earned by labor, and received with…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-17Verses 14-17 Faith alone can establish the heart in this mixed scene, where the righteous often suffer, and the wicked prosper. Solomon commended joy, and holy security of mind, arising from confidence in God, because a man has no better thing under the sun, though a good man has much better things above the sun, than soberly and thankfully to use the things of this life according to his rank. He would not have us try to give a reason for what God does…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15The Teacher’s conclusion is familiar (Ecclesiastes 2:24–25; 3:12–13, 22; 5:18–20; 6:9). Despite tragedies and hard work, we can enjoy life and be happy. In Hebrew, the word translated as having fun means finding enjoyment in daily activities, not seeking pleasure or entertainment for its own sake.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. no better thing, &c.--namely, for the "just" man, whose chief good is religion, not for the worldly. abide--Hebrew, "adhere"; not for ever, but it is the only sure good to be enjoyed from earthly labors (equivalent to "of his labor the days of his life"). Still, the language resembles the skeptical precept (1Co 15:32), introduced only to be refuted; and "abide" is too strong language, perhaps, for a religious man to apply to "eating" and "mirth."Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 8:15
In the dictionaries
Notes
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 8
- 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
New American Standard Bible 1995 — © 1960–1995 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Commentaries