Ecclesiastes 2 · Verse 26

Ecclesiastes 2:26

For 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.
Ecclesiastes 2:26, King James Version

Ecclesiastes 2:26 in other translations

BSBTo the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He assigns the task of gathering and accumulating that which he will hand over to one who pleases God. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
WEBFor to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
ASVFor 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.
YLTFor to a man who is good before Him, He hath given wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; and to a sinner He hath given travail, to gather and to heap up, to give to the good before God. Even this is vanity and vexation of spirit.
DARBYFor he 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 in God's sight. This also is vanity and pursuit of the wind.
BBETo the man with whom he is pleased, God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the work of getting goods together and storing up wealth, to give to him in whom God has pleasure. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind.
WebsterFor God giveth to a man who is good in his sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth toil, to gather, and to amass, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

What does Ecclesiastes 2:26 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
26. True, literally, in the Jewish theocracy; and in some measure in all ages (Job 27:16, 17; Pr 13:22; 28:8). Though the retribution be not so visible and immediate now as then, it is no less real. Happiness even here is more truly the portion of the godly (Psa 84:11; Mt 5:5; Mr 10:29, 30; Ro 8:28; 1Ti 4:8). that he--the sinner may give--that is, unconsciously and in spite of himself. The godly Solomon had satisfaction in his riches and wisdom, when God gave them (2Ch 1:11, 12). The backsliding Solomon had no happiness when he sought it in them apart from God; and the riches which he heaped up became the prey of Shishak (2Ch 12:9).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 26 For who can eat - more than I? - But instead of חוץ ממני chuts mimmenni, more than I; חוץ ממנו chuts mimmennu, without Him, is the reading of eight of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS., as also of the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic. "For who maye eat, drynke, or bring enythinge to pass without him?" - Coverdale. I believe this to be the true reading. No one can have a true relish of the comforts of life without the Divine blessing. This reading connects all the sentences: "This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God; - for who can eat, and who can relish without Him? For God giveth to man that is good." It is through his liberality that we have any thing to eat or drink; and it is only through his blessing that we can derive good from the use of what we possess. Giveth - wisdom, and knowledge, and joy - 1. God gives wisdom - the knowledge of himself, light to direct in the way of salvation. 2. Knowledge - understanding to discern the operation of his hand; experimental acquaintance with himself, in the dispensing of his grace and the gifts of his Spirit. 3. Joy; a hundred days of ease for one day of pain; one thousand enjoyments for one privation; and to them that believe, peace of conscience, and joy in the Holy Ghost. But to the sinner he giveth travail - He has a life of labor, disappointment, and distress; for because he is an enemy to God, he travails in pain all his days; and, as the wise man says elsewhere, the wealth of the wicked is laid up for the just. So he loseth earthly good, because he would not take a heavenly portion with it.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:18-26

Our hearts are very loth to quit their expectations of great things from the creature; but Solomon came to this at length. The world is a vale of tears, even to those that have much of it. See what fools they are, who make themselves drudges to the world, which affords a man nothing better than subsistence for the body. And the utmost he can attain in this respect is to allow himself a sober, cheerful use thereof…

Read the full comment on Ecclesiastes 2:18-26 →

Ecclesiastes 2:26 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כִּ֤יkiforH3588
לְאָדָם֙le.'a.Damto anyoneH120
שֶׁטּ֣וֹבshe.Tovwho [is] goodH2896
לְפָנָ֔יוle.fa.Nav<to> before himH6440
נָתַ֛ןna.Tanhe givesH5414
חָכְמָ֥הchokh.mahwisdomH2451
וְדַ֖עַתve.Da.'atand knowledgeH1847
וְשִׂמְחָ֑הve.sim.Chahand joyH8057
וְלַחוֹטֶא֩ve.la.cho.Te'and to the sinnerH2398
נָתַ֨ןna.Tanhe givesH5414
עִנְיָ֜ן'in.Yana taskH6045
לֶאֱס֣וֹףle.'e.Softo gatherH622
וְלִכְנ֗וֹסve.likh.Nosand to collectH3664
לָתֵת֙la.Tetto give [it]H5414
לְטוֹב֙le.tOvto a [person] goodH2896
לִפְנֵ֣יlif.Nei<to> beforeH6440
הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔יםha.'E.lo.Him<the> GodH430
גַּם\־gam-alsoH1571
זֶ֥הzehthisH2088
הֶ֖בֶלHe.vel[is] futilityH1892
וּרְע֥וּתu.re.'Utand striving ofH7469
רֽוּחַ\׃Ru.achwindH7307

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ecclesiastes 2:26

  • Proverbs 13:22

    A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

  • Job 27:16-17

    Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay; He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.

  • Proverbs 28:8

    He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.

  • John 16:24

    Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

  • Isaiah 3:10-11

    Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

  • Proverbs 3:13-18

    Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. …

  • 2 Chronicles 31:20-21

    And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the Lord his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.

  • Colossians 3:16-17

    Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

  • Colossians 1:9-12

    For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

  • Job 32:8

    But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

  • Luke 1:6

    And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

  • Genesis 7:1

    And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
in his sight. Heb. before him.
Ge 7:1; Lu 1:6
wisdom.
2Ch 31:20,21; Pr 3:13-18; Isa 3:10,11; Joh 16:24; Ro 14:17,18
1Co 1:30,31; Ga 5:22,23; Col 1:9-12; 3:16,17; Jas 3:17
to the sinner.
Job 27:16,17; Pr 13:22; 28:8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ecclesiastes 2:25

    For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?

  • Ecclesiastes 2:26

    For 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.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 2

Ecclesiastes 2:26 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque al hombre que le agrada, Dios le da sabiduría y ciencia y gozo: mas al pecador da trabajo, el que allegue y amontone, para que dé al que agrada á Dios. También esto es vanidad y aflicción de espíritu.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car à l’homme qui est bon devant lui, Dieu donne sagesse et connaissance et joie; mais à celui qui pèche, il donne l’occupation de rassembler et d’amasser, pour donner à celui qui est bon devant Dieu. Cela aussi est vanité et poursuite du vent.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn dem Menschen, der ihm wohlgefällig ist, gibt er Weisheit und Kenntnis und Freude; dem Sünder aber gibt er das Geschäft, einzusammeln und aufzuhäufen, um es dem abzugeben, der Gott wohlgefällig ist. Auch das ist Eitelkeit und ein Haschen nach Wind.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Homini bono in conspectu suo dedit Deus sapientiam, et scientiam, et lætitiam; peccatori autem dedit afflictionem et curam superfluam, ut addat, et congreget, et tradat ei qui placuit Deo; sed et hoc vanitas est, et cassa sollicitudo mentis.