Ecclesiastes 2:26
For to the man that pleaseth him [God] giveth 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 pleaseth God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
American Standard Version
In The King James Version
In Context
25For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?
Cross References
Genesis 7:1And Jehovah said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
Job 27:16Though he heap up silver as the dust, And prepare raiment as the clay;
Job 32:8But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
Proverbs 3:13Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding.
Proverbs 28:8He that augmenteth his substance by interest and increase, Gathereth it for him that hath pity on the poor.
Isaiah 3:10Say ye of the righteous, that [it shall be] well [with him]; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 2:18-26
Sources of Dissatisfaction; The Cheerful Use of Abundance. 17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 18 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. 19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also… Read the whole commentary →