Ecclesiastes 5:18–20
¶ 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.
¶ *††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.
Original 1611 marginTranslation notes and cross-references are kept distinct.
- †Hebrew wordingHeb. there is a good which is comely, &c.
- †Hebrew wordingHeb. the number of the dayes.
- *Cross-referenceChap.2.24 and 3.12.
Every 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.
Euery 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.
For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.
‖For he shall not much remember the dayes of his life: because God answereth him in the ioy of his heart.
Original 1611 marginTranslation notes and cross-references are kept distinct.
- ‖Alternative wordingOr, though he giue not much, yet he remembred &c.
Narration uses the Pure Cambridge Edition.
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SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE
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15 Essential passages are open for comparison.
From verse 18
- Ecclesiastes 2:24Rank 1 from verse 18
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.
- Ecclesiastes 3:12–13Rank 2 from verse 18
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 3:22Rank 3 from verse 18
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 9:7Rank 4 from verse 18
- 1 Timothy 6:17Rank 5 from verse 18
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 2:10Rank 6 from verse 18
10And 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.
10And whatsoeuer mine eyes desired, I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any ioy: for my heart reioyced in all my labour; and this was my portion of all my labour.
- Ecclesiastes 8:15Rank 7 from verse 18
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.
- Ecclesiastes 11:9Rank 8 from verse 18
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.
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.
- Jeremiah 52:34Rank 9 from verse 18
34And for his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life.
34†And for his diet, there was a continuall diet giuen him of the king of Babylon, euery day a portion vntill the day of his death, all the dayes of his life.
From verse 19
- Deuteronomy 8:18Rank 1 from verse 19
18But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
18But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giueth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his Couenant, which he sware vnto thy fathers, as it is this day.
- Ecclesiastes 3:13Rank 2 from verse 19
- Ecclesiastes 6:2Rank 3 from verse 19
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.
- 2 Chronicles 1:12Rank 4 from verse 19
12Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.
12Wisedome and knowledge is granted vnto thee, and I will giue thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as *none of the kings haue had, that haue beene before thee, neither shall there any after thee haue the like.
- Ecclesiastes 2:24–26Rank 5 from verse 19
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.
25For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?
26For 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.
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.
25For who can eate? or who else can hasten hereunto more then I?
26†*For God giueth to a man that is good in his sight, wisedome, and knowledge, and ioy: but to the sinner hee giueth traueile, to gather and to heape vp that he may giue to him that is good before God: This also is vanitie and vexation of spirit.
- 1 Kings 3:13Rank 6 from verse 19
13And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
13And I haue also *giuen thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there ‖shall not be any among the Kings like vnto thee, all thy dayes.
From verse 20
- Isaiah 65:13–14Rank 1 from verse 20
13Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:
14Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.
13Therefore thus saith the LORD God; Behold, my seruants shall eate, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my seruants shall drinke, but yee shall be thirstie: behold, my seruants shall reioyce, but yee shall be ashamed.
14†Behold, my seruants shall sing for ioy of heart, but yee shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howle for vexation of spirit.
- Isaiah 65:21–24Rank 2 from verse 20
21And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
22They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them.
24And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
21And they shall builde houses, and inhabite them, and they shall plant vineyards, and eate the fruit of them.
22†They shal not build, and another inhabit: they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the daies of a tree, are the dayes of my people, and mine elect shal long enioy the worke of their hands.
23They shall not labour in vaine, nor bring forth for trouble: for they are the seede of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
24*And it shal come to passe, that before they call, I will answere, & whiles they are yet speaking, I will heare.
- Psalms 37:16Rank 3 from verse 20
- Psalms 4:6–7Rank 4 from verse 20
6There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
7Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.
6 There be many that say, Who wil shew vs any good? LORD lift thou vp the light of thy countenance vpon vs.
7Thou hast put gladnesse in my heart, more then in the time that their corne and their wine increased.
- Romans 5:1Rank 5 from verse 20
- Deuteronomy 28:47Rank 6 from verse 20
- Deuteronomy 28:8–12Rank 7 from verse 20
8The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
9The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways.
10And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee.
11And the Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
12The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
8The LORD shall command the blessing vpon thee in thy ‖store-houses, and in all that thou settest thine hand vnto, and he shall blesse thee in the land which the LORD thy God giueth thee.
9The LORD shall establish thee an holy people vnto himselfe, as hee hath sworne vnto thee, if thou shalt keepe the Commaundements of the LORD thy God, and walke in his wayes.
10And all people of the earth shall see, that thou art called by the Name of the LORD, and they shall bee afraid of thee.
11And *the LORD shal make thee plenteous ‖in goods, in the fruit of thy †body, and in the fruit of thy cattell, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware vnto thy fathers to giue thee.
12The LORD shal open vnto thee his good treasure, the heauen to giue the raine vnto thy land in his season, and to blesse all the worke of thine hand: and *thou shalt lend vnto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
- Isaiah 64:5Rank 8 from verse 20
5Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.
5Thou meetest him that reioyceth, and worketh righteousnesse, those that remember thee in thy wayes: behold, thou art wroth, for we haue sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saued.
- Romans 5:5–11Rank 9 from verse 20
5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
5And hope maketh not ashamed, because the loue of God is shed abroad in our hearts, by the holy Ghost, which is giuen vnto vs.
6For when wee were yet without strength, ‖in due time, Christ died for the vngodly.
7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peraduenture for a good man, some would euen dare to dye.
8But God commendeth his loue towards vs, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for vs.
9Much more then being now iustified by his blood, we shalbe saued from wrath through him.
10For if when wee were enemies, we were reconciled to God, by the death of his sonne: much more being reconciled, we shalbe saued by his life.
11And not onely so, but wee also ioy in God, through our Lorde Iesus Christ, by whom we haue now receiued the atonement.
WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE
Definitions
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DEFINED WORDS
Ecclesiastes 5:18
1. Used as an attention word or command directing someone to look at or take notice of the person, thing, statement, or event presented: look; see; take notice. 2. As a verb, to look upon, see, observe, or witness.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
1. An interrogative or relative pronoun identifying one or more persons or things from a stated or implied set. 2. That which; what.
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. Fair, beautiful, graceful, or pleasing in appearance. 2. Becoming, fitting, or proper.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893
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
To take food into the body; to consume, devour, or waste away.
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
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
Third-person singular present form of take: receives, seizes, carries, accepts, chooses, or lays hold of.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
The great light that rules the day and gives light and heat.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
The state of living; the period or manner of one's existence.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
The one true God.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
A part, share, allotment, inheritance, assigned duty, reward, or outcome belonging or given to someone.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
DEFINED WORDS
Ecclesiastes 5:19
Each individual or member of the class, group, place, time, side, or kind named; all distributively.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
The objective form of who, referring to the person or persons acted upon or related to.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
The one true God.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Bestowed, granted, delivered, or appointed.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
1. Riches, possessions, or material resources. 2. Prosperity, welfare, or well-being.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
Sense 1: Ability, strength, force, or effective capacity to act, prevail, or produce an effect. Sense 2: Authority, right, permission, rule, dominion, or control. Sense 3: A person, authority, host, spiritual being, or other agent possessing or manifesting power.
Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · 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
Of that or those previously mentioned; of it or of them.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
To receive, seize, carry, accept, choose, or lay hold of.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893
A part, share, allotment, inheritance, assigned duty, reward, or outcome belonging or given to someone.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
1. To be glad, take joy, delight, or exult; to express gladness. 2. To make glad or cause to rejoice.
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: Something given or bestowed; a present. Sense 2: An endowment or ability. Sense 3: A bribe.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893
DEFINED WORDS
Ecclesiastes 5:20
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
An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
1. To retain in mind or call back to mind; to recall. 2. To keep in mind with heed, observance, commemoration, or corresponding action. 3. To take account of a person, promise, deed, sin, or need and act with regard to it.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
The state of living; the period or manner of one's existence.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
The one true God.
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
Sense 1: Gladness, delight, or rejoicing. Sense 2: To rejoice, delight, or be glad.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: The bodily organ. Sense 2: The inward person: the mind, will, affections, conscience, or moral character.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
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17All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.
17All his dayes also hee eateth in darkenesse, and he hath much sorrowe, and wrath with his sicknesse.
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.
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.
Selected passage19Every 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.
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.
Selected passage20For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.
20‖For he shall not much remember the dayes of his life: because God answereth him in the ioy of his heart.
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