Ecclesiastes 2:26

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.
• New International Version (NIV)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.
• 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 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

24Nothing 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. 25For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I? 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.

Ecclesiastes 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 7:1Then the Lord said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.
• Luke 1:6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
• 2 Chronicles 31:20Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and true before the Lord his God.
• Proverbs 3:13Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding;
• Isaiah 3:10“Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, For they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
• John 16:24Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
• Romans 14:17for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
• James 3:17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
• Job 27:16Though he heaps up silver like dust, And piles up clothing like clay—
• Proverbs 13:22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.
• Proverbs 28:8One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion Gathers it for him who will pity 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

• Gifts from God
• Happiness
• Joy
• Vanity
• Wicked (People)
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• God
• Gather
• Laughter
• Synagogue, the Great

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