New International Version
Ecclesiastes 5:19
19Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.
Ecclesiastes 5:19 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God.
- New King James Version (NKJV)As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God.
- New Living Translation (NLT)And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God.
Context of Ecclesiastes 5:19
17All their days they eat in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger. 18This 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. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. 20They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 5Ecclesiastes 5:19 word by word
גַּ֣ם כָּֽל־הָאָדָ֡ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָֽתַן־ל֣וֹ הָאֱלֹהִים֩ עֹ֨שֶׁר וּנְכָסִ֜ים וְהִשְׁלִיט֨וֹ לֶאֱכֹ֤ל מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙ וְלָשֵׂ֣את אֶת־חֶלְק֔וֹ וְלִשְׂמֹ֖חַ בַּעֲמָל֑וֹ זֹ֕ה מַתַּ֥ת אֱלֹהִ֖ים הִֽיא׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Every manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
- also to whom Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- hath givenנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- richesעֹ֫שֶׁר‛ôsher · richesH6239
- and wealthנֶ֫כֶסnekes · wealthH5233
- and hath given him powerשָׁלַטshâlaţ · to domineerH7980
- to eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
- thereof, and to takeנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: bearH5375
- his portionחֵ֫לֶקchêleq · portionH2506
- and to rejoiceשָׂמַחώâmach · to rejoiceH8055
- in his labourעָמָל‛âmâl · troubleH5999
- thisזֹהzôh · thisH2090
- the giftמַתַּתmattâth · giftH4991
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 5:19
- Ecclesiastes 2:24A 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,
- Ecclesiastes 3:13That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.
- Ecclesiastes 6:2God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them, and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.
- Deuteronomy 8:18But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
- 1 Kings 3:13Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 5:19
- 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. 1919. As Ec 5:18 refers to the "laboring" man (Ec 5:12), so Ec 5:19 to the "rich" man, who gets wealth not by "oppression" (Ec 5:8), but by "God's gift." He is distinguished also from the "rich" man (Ec 6:2) in having received by God's gift not only "wealth," but also "power to eat thereof," which that one has not. to take his portion--limits him to the lawful use of wealth, not keeping back from God His portion while enjoying his own.Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 5:19
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
New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries