Ecclesiastes 2:26
For to a man who is good in his presence [God] giveth wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he giveth employment, to gather up and to bring together, that he may give it to him that is good before God. Also this is vanity and a torture of the spirit.
Leeser Tanakh
In The King James Version
In Context
25For who can well eat, or who can enjoy earthly things more than I?
Cross References
Genesis 7:1And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy household 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 garments [as plentifully] as the clay:
Job 32:8But it is the spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty which giveth them understanding.
Proverbs 3:13Happy the man that hath found wisdom, and the man that acquireth understanding.
Proverbs 28:8He that increaseth his wealth by interest and usury will gather it for him that will be kind to the poor.
Isaiah 3:10Say ye to the righteous, that he hath done well; for the fruit of their doings shall they eat.
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 →