New International Version
Ecclesiastes 2:26
26To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Ecclesiastes 2:26 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For God gives 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 he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
- New Living Translation (NLT)God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. This, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.
Context of Ecclesiastes 2:26
24A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, 25for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 2Ecclesiastes 2:26 word by word
כִּ֤י לְאָדָם֙ שֶׁטּ֣וֹב לְפָנָ֔יו נָתַ֛ן חָכְמָ֥ה וְדַ֖עַת וְשִׂמְחָ֑ה וְלַחוֹטֶא֩ נָתַ֨ן עִנְיָ֜ן לֶאֱס֣וֹף וְלִכְנ֗וֹס לָתֵת֙ לְטוֹב֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים גַּם־זֶ֥ה הֶ֖בֶל וּרְע֥וּת רֽוּחַ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- givethנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- to a manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
- goodטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
- in his sightפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
- and knowledgeדַּ֫עַתda‛ath · knowledgeH1847
- and joyשִׂמְחָהώimchâh · joyH8057
- but to the sinnerחָטָאchâţâ' · to sinH2398
- travailעִנְיָן‛inyân · taskH6045
- to gatherאָסַף'âsaph · to gatherH622
- and to heap upכָּנַסkânas · to gatherH3664
- Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- vanityהֶ֫בֶלhebel hăbêl · vanityH1892
- and vexationרְעוּתre‛ûth · longingH7469
- of spiritרוּחַrûach · spirit: breathH7307
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 2:26
- Genesis 7:1The Lord then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.
- Luke 1:6Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.
- 2 Chronicles 31:20This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God.
- Proverbs 3:13Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,
- Isaiah 3:10Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.
- John 16:24Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
- Romans 14:17For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
- James 3:17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
- Job 27:16Though he heaps up silver like dust and clothes like piles of clay,
- Proverbs 13:22A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.
- Proverbs 28:8Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 2:26
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 26Giveth - wisdom, and knowledge, and joy - God gives wisdom - the knowledge of himself, light to direct in the way of salvation. Knowledge - understanding to discern the operation of his hand; experimental acquaintance with himself, in the dispensing of his grace and the gifts of his Spirit. Joy; a hundred days of ease for one day of pain; one thousand enjoyments for one privation; and to them that believe, peace of conscience, and joy in the Holy Ghost…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-26Verses 18-26 Our hearts are very loth to quit their expectations of great things from the creature; but Solomon came to this at length. The world is a vale of tears, even to those that have much of it. See what fools they are, who make themselves drudges to the world, which affords a man nothing better than subsistence for the body. And the utmost he can attain in this respect is to allow himself a sober, cheerful use thereof, according to his rank and…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 26If a sinner becomes wealthy, it is meaningless because God takes the wealth away.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2626. True, literally, in the Jewish theocracy; and in some measure in all ages (Job 27:16, 17; Pr 13:22; 28:8). Though the retribution be not so visible and immediate now as then, it is no less real. Happiness even here is more truly the portion of the godly (Psa 84:11; Mt 5:5; Mr 10:29, 30; Ro 8:28; 1Ti 4:8). that he--the sinner may give--that is, unconsciously and in spite of himself. The godly Solomon had satisfaction in his riches and wisdom, when God…Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 2:26
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 2
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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