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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Ecclesiastes 5:18–20

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
¶ 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.
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.
For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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3 selected · 7 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

15 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 18

  1. Ecclesiastes 2:24Rank 1 from verse 18
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    24There 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.

  2. Ecclesiastes 3:12–13Rank 2 from verse 18
    Open

    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.

  3. Ecclesiastes 3:22Rank 3 from verse 18
    Open

    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?

  4. Ecclesiastes 9:7Rank 4 from verse 18
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    7¶ Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.

  5. 1 Timothy 6:17Rank 5 from verse 18
    Open

    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;

From verse 19

  1. Deuteronomy 8:18Rank 1 from verse 19
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    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.

  2. Ecclesiastes 3:13Rank 2 from verse 19
    Open

    13And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

  3. Ecclesiastes 6:2Rank 3 from verse 19
    Open

    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.

  4. 2 Chronicles 1:12Rank 4 from verse 19
    Open

    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.

  5. Ecclesiastes 2:24–26Rank 5 from verse 19
    Open

    24There 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.

From verse 20

  1. Isaiah 65:13–14Rank 1 from verse 20
    Open

    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.

  2. Isaiah 65:21–24Rank 2 from verse 20
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    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.

  3. Psalms 37:16Rank 3 from verse 20
    Open

    16A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

  4. Psalms 4:6–7Rank 4 from verse 20
    Open

    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.

  5. Romans 5:1Rank 5 from verse 20
    Open

    1THEREFORE being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 5:18

COMBINED MEANING

behold

↗

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

COMBINED MEANING

which

↗

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

COMBINED MEANING

good

↗

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

COMBINED MEANING

comely

↗

1. Fair, beautiful, graceful, or pleasing in appearance. 2. Becoming, fitting, or proper.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

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

COMBINED MEANING

eat

↗

To take food into the body; to consume, devour, or waste away.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

enjoy

↗

To possess, experience, or receive with satisfaction, benefit, or delight.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

labour

↗

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

COMBINED MEANING

taketh

↗

Third-person singular present form of take: receives, seizes, carries, accepts, chooses, or lays hold of.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sun

↗

The great light that rules the day and gives light and heat.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

portion

↗

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

COMBINED MEANING

every

↗

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

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

whom

↗

The objective form of who, referring to the person or persons acted upon or related to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

wealth

↗

1. Riches, possessions, or material resources. 2. Prosperity, welfare, or well-being.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

power

↗

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

COMBINED MEANING

eat

↗

To take food into the body; to consume, devour, or waste away.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

take

↗

To receive, seize, carry, accept, choose, or lay hold of.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

portion

↗

A part, share, allotment, inheritance, assigned duty, reward, or outcome belonging or given to someone.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

rejoice

↗

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

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

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

COMBINED MEANING

labour

↗

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

COMBINED MEANING

gift

↗

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

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

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

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

remember

↗

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

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

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

COMBINED MEANING

joy

↗

Sense 1: Gladness, delight, or rejoicing. Sense 2: To rejoice, delight, or be glad.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

heart

↗

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.

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.

Selected passage

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.

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20For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.

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