Ecclesiastes 2:24

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

There is nothing better for a person than to eat and drink and find enjoyment in their work. This too, I realized, is from the hand of God.

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

    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.

  • KJV1611 – Modern English

    There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and enjoy the good of his labor. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God.

  • King James Version 1611 (Original)

    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.

  • American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

    There is nothing better for a man [than] that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.

  • King James Version with Strong's Numbers

    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.

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    Is it not better then for a ma to eate and drynke, and his soule to be mery in his laboure? Yee I sawe that this also was a gifte of God:

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

    There is no profit to man: but that he eate, and drinke, & delight his soule with the profit of his labour: I saw also this, that it was of the hand of God.

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    Is it not better then for a man to eate and drynke, and his soule to be mery in his labour? yea I sawe that this also was a gift of God.

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

    [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.

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

    There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.

  • Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

    There is nothing good in a man who eateth, and hath drunk, and hath shewn his soul good in his labour. This also I have seen that it `is' from the hand of God.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    There is nothing better for a man `than' that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    There is nothing better for a man [than] that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.

  • Bible in Basic English (1941)

    There is nothing better for a man than taking meat and drink, and having delight in his work. This again I saw was from the hand of God.

  • World English Bible (2000)

    There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.

  • NET Bible® (New English Translation)

    Enjoy Work and its Benefits There is nothing better for people than to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in their work. I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment comes from God.

Referenced Verses

  • Eccl 3:22 : 22 So I saw that there is nothing better than for a person to rejoice in their work, for that is their lot. Who can bring them to see what will happen after them?
  • Eccl 5:18-19 : 18 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and enables them to enjoy it, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. 19 For they seldom reflect on the days of their life because God keeps them occupied with joy in their hearts.
  • Eccl 8:15 : 15 So I praised enjoyment, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat, drink, and be glad. This will accompany them in their toil through the days of life that God has given them under the sun.
  • Eccl 3:12-13 : 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to rejoice and to do good while they live. 13 And also that every person should eat, drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.
  • Eccl 9:7-9 : 7 Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a glad heart, for God has already approved your works. 8 Let your clothes always be white, and do not let oil be lacking on your head. 9 Enjoy life with the wife you love all the days of your meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your portion in life and in your hard work under the sun.
  • 1 Cor 15:32 : 32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus merely from a human point of view, what benefit is that to me? If the dead are not raised, 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.'
  • 1 Tim 6:17 : 17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be arrogant or to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy.
  • Deut 12:18 : 18 Instead, you are to eat these in the presence of the Lord your God, at the place the Lord your God will choose—you, your son and daughter, your male and female servants, and the Levite within your gates. Rejoice before the Lord your God in everything you undertake.
  • Deut 12:12 : 12 You shall rejoice before the Lord your God—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levite within your gates, since he has no portion or inheritance with you.
  • Eccl 11:9-9 : 9 Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart be glad in the days of your prime. Follow the ways of your heart and the sights of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. 10 Remove vexation from your heart and put away distress from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are fleeting.
  • Mal 2:2 : 2 If you do not listen and if you do not take it to heart to honor My name, says the Lord of Hosts, I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them because you do not take it to heart.
  • Luke 12:19-20 : 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take it easy, eat, drink, and be merry.”' 20 But God said to him, 'Fool! This very night your soul will be required of you, and the things you have prepared—who will they belong to?'
  • Acts 14:17 : 17 Yet, he did not leave himself without a witness, for he gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling you with food and gladness in your hearts.
  • Eccl 6:2 : 2 God gives a man wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires. Yet God does not enable him to enjoy them, but instead a foreigner eats them. This is meaningless and a grievous misfortune.
  • Neh 8:10 : 10 Nehemiah said, 'Go and celebrate with rich foods and sweet drinks, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared. For this day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.'

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Eccl 5:17-19
    3 verses
    87%

    17Behold, what I have seen is good and fitting: to eat and drink and to enjoy the good of all one's labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him, for this is his reward.

    18Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and enables them to enjoy it, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.

    19For they seldom reflect on the days of their life because God keeps them occupied with joy in their hearts.

  • Eccl 2:25-26
    2 verses
    87%

    25For who can eat or who can enjoy life apart from Him?

    26To the person who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, He gives the task of gathering and storing wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

  • Eccl 3:9-14
    6 verses
    87%

    9What does the worker gain from all their toil?

    10I have seen the burden that God has laid on the human race.

    11He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity in the human heart, yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

    12I know that there is nothing better for people than to rejoice and to do good while they live.

    13And also that every person should eat, drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.

    14I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it nor taken from it. God does this so that people will fear Him.

  • Eccl 8:14-17
    4 verses
    86%

    14There is a futility that takes place on the earth: righteous people receive what the wicked deserve, and wicked people receive what the righteous deserve. I said, 'This too is vanity.'

    15So I praised enjoyment, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat, drink, and be glad. This will accompany them in their toil through the days of life that God has given them under the sun.

    16When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to observe the work that is done on earth, even though people do not see sleep with their eyes day or night,

    17then I saw all the work of God, that no one can understand the work that is done under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can comprehend it. Even if the wise claim to know, they cannot truly understand it.

  • Eccl 3:22
    86%

    22So I saw that there is nothing better than for a person to rejoice in their work, for that is their lot. Who can bring them to see what will happen after them?

  • Eccl 2:10-11
    2 verses
    80%

    10Anything my eyes desired, I did not withhold from them; I did not keep my heart from any pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, for this was my reward for all my efforts.

    11Yet when I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, behold, everything was meaningless—a chasing after the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun.

  • Eccl 2:17-23
    7 verses
    79%

    17So I hated life, because the work done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

    18I hated all my toil under the sun because I must leave it to the one who comes after me.

    19And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will rule over all the fruit of my labor that I have worked for under the sun. This too is meaningless.

    20So I turned my heart to despair over all the hard work with which I had labored under the sun.

    21For there is a person who labors with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, but then must leave everything to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.

    22What does a person gain from all their labor and from the striving of their heart under the sun?

    23All their days are full of sorrow, and their work is filled with grief; even at night their mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.

  • Eccl 6:7
    77%

    7All human toil is for their mouth, yet their appetite is never satisfied.

  • Eccl 9:9-10
    2 verses
    77%

    9Enjoy life with the wife you love all the days of your meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your portion in life and in your hard work under the sun.

    10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

  • Eccl 1:3
    76%

    3What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?

  • Eccl 2:1
    76%

    1I said to myself, 'Come now, I will test you with pleasure to see what is good.' But behold, this too was meaningless.

  • Eccl 9:7
    76%

    7Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a glad heart, for God has already approved your works.

  • Eccl 4:3-4
    2 verses
    76%

    3But better than both is the one who has not yet been born, who has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

    4And I saw that all toil and all skill in work are driven by one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

  • Eccl 7:14
    75%

    14When times are good, be joyful; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.

  • Eccl 6:11-12
    2 verses
    75%

    11The more words, the more meaningless—and what advantage does that bring to anyone?

    12For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few days of their fleeting life? They pass like a shadow. Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?

  • Eccl 4:6-9
    4 verses
    75%

    6Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.

    7Again, I turned and saw meaninglessness under the sun.

    8There was a man all alone. He had no son or brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. 'For whom am I toiling,' he asked, 'and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?' This too is meaningless—a miserable business!

    9Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.

  • Eccl 6:1-2
    2 verses
    75%

    1There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it is great upon humanity.

    2God gives a man wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires. Yet God does not enable him to enjoy them, but instead a foreigner eats them. This is meaningless and a grievous misfortune.

  • Eccl 6:9
    75%

    9Better is what the eyes see than the wandering of desire. This too is meaningless and a chasing after the wind.

  • Eccl 1:13-14
    2 verses
    75%

    13I set my heart to seek and explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a burdensome task God has given to the human race to occupy themselves with!

    14I have seen all the deeds that are done under the sun; they are all meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

  • Eccl 2:3
    74%

    3I explored with my heart how to cheer my body with wine, while my mind guided me with wisdom, and how to embrace folly until I could see what is good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.

  • Ps 128:2
    74%

    2You will eat the fruit of your labor; you will be blessed, and it will go well with you.

  • Eccl 9:1
    73%

    1So I reflected on all this and set my heart to examine it: that the righteous, the wise, and their deeds are in the hand of God. People do not know whether love or hatred awaits them; everything lies before them.

  • Eccl 11:8
    73%

    8For if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in all of them, but let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. All that comes is meaningless.