New King James Version
Ecclesiastes 3:12
12I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives,
Ecclesiastes 3:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
- New International Version (NIV)I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.
- English Standard Version (ESV)I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live;
- New Living Translation (NLT)So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can.
Context of Ecclesiastes 3:12
10I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. 11He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, 13and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God. 14I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 3Ecclesiastes 3:12 word by word
יָדַ֕עְתִּי כִּ֛י אֵ֥ין ט֖וֹב בָּ֑ם כִּ֣י אִם־לִשְׂמ֔וֹחַ וְלַעֲשׂ֥וֹת ט֖וֹב בְּחַיָּֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 3:12
- Ecclesiastes 3:22So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?
- Ecclesiastes 9:7Go, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works.
- Deuteronomy 28:63And it shall be, that just as the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good and multiply you, so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you and bring you to nothing; and you shall be plucked from off the land which you go to possess.
- Psalms 37:3Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
- Isaiah 64:5You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, Who remembers You in Your ways. You are indeed angry, for we have sinned— In these ways we continue; And we need to be saved.
- Luke 11:41But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you.
- Acts 20:35I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
- Philippians 4:4Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
- 1 Thessalonians 5:15See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
- 1 Timothy 6:18Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 3:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12I know that there is no good in them, but, etc. - Since God has so disposed the affairs of this world, that the great events of providence cannot be accelerated or retarded by human cares and anxieties, submit to God; make a proper use of what he has given: do thyself no harm, and endeavor as much as possible to do others good. Enjoy, and bless thyself; let others share The transient blessing: 'tis the gift of God.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12In them - i. e., in the sons of men. To do good - In a moral sense. Physical enjoyment is referred to in Ecclesiastes 3:13.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-15Verses 11-15 Every thing is as God made it; not as it appears to us. We have the world so much in our hearts, are so taken up with thoughts and cares of worldly things, that we have neither time nor spirit to see God's hand in them. The world has not only gained possession of the heart, but has formed thoughts against the beauty of God's works. We mistake if we think we were born for ourselves; no, it is our business to do good in this life, which is…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-13rejoice and do good while they live: Even though life and work can be hard, the Teacher's conclusion (repeated from Ecclesiastes 2:24) can still be true.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. in them--in God's works (Ec 3:11), as far as relates to man's duty. Man cannot fully comprehend them, but he ought joyfully to receive ("rejoice in") God's gifts, and "do good" with them to himself and to others. This is never out of season (Ga 6:9, 10). Not sensual joy and self-indulgence (Php 4:4; Jas 4:16, 17).Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 3:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 3
- 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 King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries