New Living Translation
Ecclesiastes 2:26
26God 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.
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 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.
Context of Ecclesiastes 2:26
24So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. 25For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him? 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.
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 7:1When everything was ready, the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the boat with all your family, for among all the people of the earth, I can see that you alone are righteous.
- Luke 1:6Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations.
- 2 Chronicles 31:20In this way, King Hezekiah handled the distribution throughout all Judah, doing what was pleasing and good in the sight of the Lord his God.
- Proverbs 3:13Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding.
- Isaiah 3:10Tell the godly that all will be well for them. They will enjoy the rich reward they have earned!
- John 16:24You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.
- Romans 14:17For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
- James 3:17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.
- Job 27:16“Evil people may have piles of money and may store away mounds of clothing.
- Proverbs 13:22Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren, but the sinner’s wealth passes to the godly.
- Proverbs 28:8Income from charging high interest rates will end up in the pocket of someone who is 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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