Ecclesiastes 5:18

And this is a gift from God: that every man to whom God has given wealth and resources, and to whom he has granted the ability to consume these, may enjoy his portion, and may find joy in his labors.

Catholic Public Domain Version

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

17And so, this has seemed good to me: that a person should eat and drink, and should enjoy the fruits of his labor, in which he has toiled under the sun, for the number of the days of his life that God has given him. For this is his portion.

19And then he will not fully remember the days of his life, because God occupies his heart with delights.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 5

Cross References

Ecclesiastes 2:24Is it not better to eat and drink, and to show his soul the good things of his labors? And this is from the hand of God.

Ecclesiastes 3:13For this is a gift from God: when each man eats and drinks, and sees the good results of his labor.

Ecclesiastes 6:2It is a man to whom God has given wealth, and resources, and honor; and out of all that he desires, nothing is lacking to his life; yet God does not grant him the ability to consume these things, but instead a man who is a stranger will devour them. This is emptiness and a great misfortune.

Ecclesiastes 9:7So then, go and eat your bread with rejoicing, and drink your wine with gladness. For your works are pleasing to God.

Jeremiah 52:34And for his meals, a continual provision was allotted to him by the king of Babylon, a measure for every single day, until the day of his death, all the days of his life.

Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 5:10-18

The Vanity of Riches. 9 Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field. 10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. 11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? 12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.… Read the whole commentary →

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