Ecclesiastes 8 · Verse 15

Ecclesiastes 8:15

Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 8:15, King James Version

Ecclesiastes 8:15 in other translations

BSBSo I commended the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be merry. For this joy will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.
WEBThen I commended mirth, because a man has no better thing under the sun than to eat, to drink, and to be joyful: for that will accompany him in his labor all the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.
ASVThen I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be joyful: for that shall abide with him in his labor all the days of his life which God hath given him under the sun.
YLTAnd I have praised mirth because there is no good to man under the sun except to eat and to drink, and to rejoice, and it remaineth with him of his labour the days of his life that God hath given to him under the sun.
DARBYAnd I commended mirth, because there is nothing better for man under the sun than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry; for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God hath given him under the sun.
BBESo I gave praise to joy, because there is nothing better for a man to do under the sun than to take meat and drink and be happy; for that will be with him in his work all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun.
WebsterThen I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labor the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.

What does Ecclesiastes 8:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. no better thing, &c.--namely, for the "just" man, whose chief good is religion, not for the worldly. abide--Hebrew, "adhere"; not for ever, but it is the only sure good to be enjoyed from earthly labors (equivalent to "of his labor the days of his life"). Still, the language resembles the skeptical precept (1Co 15:32), introduced only to be refuted; and "abide" is too strong language, perhaps, for a religious man to apply to "eating" and "mirth."

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 Then I commended mirth - These are some more of the cavils of the infidel objector: "Since virtue is frequently under oppression, and vice triumphs in health, and rolls in wealth, I see plainly that we should not trouble ourselves about future things; and therefore should be governed by the maxim Ede, Bibe, Lude. Post mortem nulla voluptas." Eat, drink, and play, While here you may; For soon as death Has stopp'd your breath Ye ne'er shall see a cheerful day.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ecclesiastes 8:14-17

Faith alone can establish the heart in this mixed scene, where the righteous often suffer, and the wicked prosper. Solomon commended joy, and holy security of mind, arising from confidence in God, because a man has no better thing under the sun, though a good man has much better things above the sun, than soberly and thankfully to use the things of this life according to his rank. He would not have us try to give a…

Read the full comment on Ecclesiastes 8:14-17 →

Ecclesiastes 8:15 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.

וְשִׁבַּ֤חְתִּֽיve.shi.Bach.tiand I commendH7623
אֲנִי֙'a.NiIH589
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
הַשִּׂמְחָ֔הha.sim.Chah<the> gladnessH8057
אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherthatH834
אֵֽין\־'ein-notH369
ט֤וֹבTovgoodH2896
לָֽאָדָם֙la.'a.Dam[belongs] to <the> humankindH120
תַּ֣חַתTa.chatunderH8478
הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁha.She.meshthe sunH8121
כִּ֛יkithatH3588
אִם\־'im-exceptH518
לֶאֱכ֥וֹלle.'e.Kholto eatH398
וְלִשְׁתּ֖וֹתve.lish.Totand to drinkH8354
וְלִשְׂמ֑וֹחַve.lis.Mo.achand to be happyH8055
וְה֞וּאve.Hu'and thatH1931
יִלְוֶ֣נּוּyil.Ve.nuit will accompany himH3867
בַעֲמָל֗וֹva.'a.ma.Loin toil hisH5999
יְמֵ֥יye.Mei[the] days ofH3117
חַיָּ֛יוchai.Yavlife hisH2416
אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-whichH834
נָֽתַן\־na.tan-he has givenH5414
ל֥וֹloto <the> him
הָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.Him<the> GodH430
תַּ֥חַתTa.chatunderH8478
הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ\׃ha.Sha.meshthe sunH8121

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

Cross references for Ecclesiastes 8:15

  • Ecclesiastes 2:24

    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.

  • Ecclesiastes 5:18

    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.

  • Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

    I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:7-9

    Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.

  • Ecclesiastes 3:22

    Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

  • 1 Timothy 4:3-4

    Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

  • 1 Timothy 6:17

    Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Then I.Some consider this as the cavil of an infidel objector, equivalent to the Epicurean maxim, {Ede, bibe, lude; post mortem nulla voluptas,} "Eat, drink, and play; there is no pleasure after death." But it may be regarded as a recommendation of a moderate use of worldly things, with a cheerful and contented mind; which may justly be considered as the greatest advantage which can be made of all below the sun: and amidst all changes, such a frame of mind, if the result of right principles, may and ought to be preserved; and it will be the recompence and solace of all our labours and toils.
2:24; 3:12,13,22; 5:18; 9:7-9; 1Ti 4:3,4; 6:17

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

Context

  • Ecclesiastes 8:14

    There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.

  • Ecclesiastes 8:15

    Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.

  • Ecclesiastes 8:16

    When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:)

Read all of Ecclesiastes 8

Ecclesiastes 8:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Por tanto alabé yo la alegría; que no tiene el hombre bien debajo del sol, sino que coma y beba, y se alegre; y que esto se le quede de su trabajo los días de su vida que Dios le dió debajo del sol.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et j’ai loué la joie, parce qu’il n’y a rien de bon pour l’homme, sous le soleil, que de manger et de boire et de se réjouir; et c’est ce qui lui demeurera de son travail durant les jours de sa vie que Dieu lui donne sous le soleil.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und ich pries die Freude, weil es für den Menschen nichts Besseres unter der Sonne gibt, als zu essen und zu trinken und sich zu freuen; und dies wird ihn begleiten bei seiner Mühe, die Tage seines Lebens hindurch, welche Gott ihm unter der Sonne gegeben hat.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Laudavi igitur lætitiam; quod non esset homini bonum sub sole, nisi quod comederet, et biberet, atque gauderet, et hoc solum secum auferret de labore suo, in diebus vitæ suæ quos dedit ei Deus sub sole.