Ecclesiastes 2:10

Ecclesiastes 2:10 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
• New International Version (NIV)I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, For my heart rejoiced in all my labor; And this was my reward from all my labor.

Context of Ecclesiastes 2:10

8I also amassed silver and gold for myself, as well as the treasure of kings and the provinces. I acquired male and female singers for myself, as well as the luxuries of humankind—vaults and vaults of them. 9So I became far wealthier than all before me in Jerusalem, yet my wisdom stayed with me. I denied myself nothing that my eyes desired; I withheld from my heart no enjoyment. My heart took delight from all my toil— this was my reward for all my labor. 11Yet when I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended to accomplish it, behold, it all was futile and chasing after the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun. 12Then I turned to consider wisdom, madness and folly. For what more can the one who succeeds the king do than what he has already done?

Ecclesiastes 2:10 word by word

וְכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָֽׁאֲל֣וּ עֵינַ֔י לֹ֥א אָצַ֖לְתִּי מֵהֶ֑ם לֹֽא־מָנַ֨עְתִּי אֶת־לִבִּ֜י מִכָּל־שִׂמְחָ֗ה כִּֽי־לִבִּ֤י שָׂמֵ֙חַ֙ מִכָּל־עֲמָלִ֔י וְזֶֽה־הָיָ֥ה חֶלְקִ֖י מִכָּל־עֲמָלִֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And whatsoever mine eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
• desiredשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
• I keptאָצַל'âtsal · to reserveH680
• not from them, I withheldמָנַעmâna‛ · to withholdH4513
• not my heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• from any joyשִׂמְחָהώimchâh · joyH8057
• rejoicedשָׂמֵחַώâmêach · gladH8056
• in all my labourעָמָל‛âmâl · troubleH5999
• and this was my portionחֵ֫לֶקchêleq · portionH2506

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 2:10

• Ecclesiastes 3:22So I perceived that nothing is better than for man to enjoy his works, because that is his portion. For who can bring him back to see what will be in the future?
• Ecclesiastes 6:9Better is what the eyes see than the pursuit of the soul’s desires. This too is fleeting and striving after wind.
• Ecclesiastes 11:9Rejoice, young man, in your childhood, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.
• Genesis 3:6Now the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a thing of lust for the eyes, and that the tree was desirable for imparting wisdom. So she took of its fruit and she ate. She also gave to her husband who was with her and he ate.
• Genesis 6:2then the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were good and they took for themselves wives, any they chose.
• Judges 14:2So he came back and told his father and mother saying, “I have seen a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines. So now get her for me as a wife.”
• Job 31:1“I made a covenant with my eyes not to pay attention to a virgin.
• Psalms 119:37Turn my eyes away from gazing at vanity but revive me in Your ways.
• Proverbs 23:5When you cast your eyes 0n riches, it is gone; for it surely sprouts wings and flies off into the sky like an eagle.
• 1 John 2:16For everything in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, and the boasting of life—is not from the Father but from the world.
• Ecclesiastes 2:1I said within myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to see what is good.” Yet behold, this too was meaningless.
• Ecclesiastes 5:18Additionally, everyone to whom God has given riches and wealth, and empowers him to eat from it, to receive his share, and to rejoice in his labor—this is a gift of God.
• Ecclesiastes 9:9Live joyously with the wife whom you love all the days of your fleeting life that He has given you under the sun during all your fleeting days—for this is your portion in life and in your toil that you labor under the sun.
• Psalms 128:2for you will eat the labor of your hands. You will be blessed and it will be good for you.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 2:10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10I withheld not my heart from any joy - He had every means of gratification; he could desire nothing that was not within his reach; and whatever he wished, he took care to possess.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10For my heart took delight in all my work: The Teacher highlights a key theme: Joy comes from wise and diligent work (Ecclesiastes 5:12, 18–20).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-113-11. Illustration more at large of Ec 2:1, 2. I sought--I resolved, after search into many plans. give myself unto wine--literally, "to draw my flesh," or "body to wine" (including all banquetings). Image from a captive drawn after a chariot in triumph (Ro 6:16, 19; 1Co 12:2); or, one "allured" (2Pe 2:18, 19). yet acquainting ... wisdom--literally, "and my heart (still) was behaving, or guiding itself," with wisdom [Gesenius]. Maurer translates: "was…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 2:10

• Epicureans
• Industry
• Investigation
• Joy
• Pleasure
• Self-Indulgence
• Vanity
• Wisdom
• Worldliness

In the dictionaries

• Gather
• Laughter
• Ecclesiastes, the Preacher
• Labor
• 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