Ecclesiastes 2:24
¶ There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
¶ *‖ There is nothing better for a man, then that he should eat and drinke, and that he should make his soule enioy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
Original 1611 marginTranslation notes and cross-references are kept distinct.
- ‖Alternative wordingOr, delight his senses.
- *Cross-referenceCha. 3.12, 22. and 5.17. and 8.15.
Narration uses the Pure Cambridge Edition.
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From verse 24
- Ecclesiastes 3:22Rank 1 from verse 24
22Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?
22*Wherefore I perceiue that there is nothing better, then that a man should reioyce in his owne workes: for that is his portion; for who shall bring him to see what shalbe after him?
- Ecclesiastes 8:15Rank 2 from verse 24
15Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.
15*Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing vnder the Sunne, then to eate and to drinke, and to be merrie: for that shall abide with him of his labour, the dayes of his life, which God giueth him vnder the Sunne.
- 1 Timothy 6:17Rank 3 from verse 24
17Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
17Charge them that are rich in this world, that they bee not high minded, nor trust in †vncertaine riches, but in the liuing God, who giueth vs richly all things to enioy,
- Ecclesiastes 3:12–13Rank 4 from verse 24
12I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
13And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
12I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to reioyce, and to doe good in his life.
13And also that euery man should eate and drinke, and enioy the good of all his labour: it is the gift of God.
- Ecclesiastes 5:18–19Rank 5 from verse 24
18¶ Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.
19Every 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.
18¶ *††Behold that which I haue seene: It is good and comely for one to eate and to drinke, and to enioy the good of all his labour that he taketh vnder the sunne, all the dayes of his life, which God giueth him: for it is his portion.
19Euery man also to whom God hath giuen riches and wealth, and hath giuen him power to eate thereof, and to take his portion, and to reioyce in his labour; th is is the gift of God.
- Ecclesiastes 9:7–9Rank 6 from verse 24
7¶ Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.
8Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.
9Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.
7¶ Goe thy way, eate thy bread with ioy, and drinke thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy workes.
8Let thy garments bee alwayes white; and let thy head lacke no oyntment.
9†*Liue ioyfully with the wife, whom thou louest, all the dayes of the life of thy vanitie, which he hath giuen thee vnder the Sunne, all the dayes of thy vanitie: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest vnder the Sunne.
- 1 Corinthians 15:32Rank 7 from verse 24
32If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.
32If ‖after the maner of men I haue fought with beasts at Ephesus, what aduantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let vs eate and drinke, for to morrowe wee die.
- Deuteronomy 12:18Rank 8 from verse 24
18But thou must eat them before the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto.
18But thou must eate them before the LORD thy God, in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose, thou and thy sonne, and thy daughter, and thy man seruant, and thy maid seruant, and the Leuite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt reioyce before the LORD thy God, in all that thou puttest thine hands vnto.
- Acts 14:17Rank 9 from verse 24
17Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
17Neuerthelesse, he left not himselfe without witnesse, in that he did good, and gaue vs raine from heauen, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladnesse.
- Deuteronomy 12:12Rank 10 from verse 24
12And ye shall rejoice before the Lord your God, ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gates; forasmuch as he hath no part nor inheritance with you.
12And yee shall reioyce before the LORD your God, ye and your sonnes and your daughters, and your men seruants, and your maid seruants, and the Leuite that is within your gates, forasmuch as *hee hath no part nor inheritance with you.
- Ecclesiastes 11:9–10Rank 11 from verse 24
9¶ Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
10Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.
9¶ Reioyce, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheere thee in the dayes of thy youth, and walke in the wayes of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things, God will bring thee into iudgement.
10‖Therefore remoue sorrow from thy heart, and put away euill from thy flesh; for child-hood & youth are vanitie.
- Ecclesiastes 6:2Rank 12 from verse 24
2A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
2A man to whom God hath giuen riches, wealth and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soule of all that he desireth, yet God giueth him not power to eate thereof, but a stranger eateth it: Th is is vanitie, and it is an euill disease.
- Malachi 2:2Rank 13 from verse 24
2If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.
2*If ye will not heare, and if yee will not lay it to heart, to giue glory vnto my name, saith the LORD of hostes; I will euen send a curse vpon you, and will curse your blessings: yea, I haue cursed them already, because yee doe not lay it to heart.
- Luke 12:19–20Rank 14 from verse 24
19And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
19And I will say to my soule, Soule, thou hast much goods layd vp for many yeeres, take thine ease, eate, drinke, and be merry.
20But God said vnto him, Thou foole, this night †thy soule shal be required of thee: then whose shal those things be which thou hast prouided?
- Nehemiah 8:10Rank 15 from verse 24
10Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
10Then hee sayd vnto them, Goe your way, eat the fat, & drinke the sweet, and send portions vnto them, for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy vnto our LORD: neither be ye sory, for the ioy of the LORD is your strength.
WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE
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DEFINED WORDS
Ecclesiastes 2:24
Sense 1: More excellent, more fitting, or to a greater degree. Sense 2: To improve or make better.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
A verb expressing duty, propriety, expectation, intention, purpose, condition, appointed outcome, or a future event viewed from another time or statement.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
To take food into the body; to consume, devour, or waste away.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
To form, create, produce, cause, appoint, perform, or render into a stated condition.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893
Sense 1: A living person or creature; a life or self. Sense 2: The inward self distinguished from the body. Sense 3: The seat of desire or appetite.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
To possess, experience, or receive with satisfaction, benefit, or delight.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: Right, morally upright, beneficial, pleasing, useful, suitable, sound, favourable, or excellent. Sense 2: A good thing, benefit, welfare, possession, or goods. Sense 3: In ‘make good,’ to repair, repay, fulfil, establish, or prove.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
1. Work, toil, effort, exertion, service, or the product of work. 2. Weariness or trouble. 3. Travail in childbirth. 4. To work, strive, serve, or exert oneself.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: The part of the body at the end of the arm. Sense 2: Figuratively, power, possession, aid, or agency.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
The one true God.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
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Surrounding Verses
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23For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
23*For all his dayes are sorrowes, and his traueile, griefe; yea his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanitie.
24¶ There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
24¶ *‖ There is nothing better for a man, then that he should eat and drinke, and that he should make his soule enioy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
Selected passage25For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?
25For who can eate? or who else can hasten hereunto more then I?