For 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.Ecclesiastes 2:26 Additional Translations
Clarke's Commentary on the BibleFor 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.
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
in his sight
Genesis 7:1 And the LORD said to Noah, Come you and all your house into the ark; for you have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
Luke 1:6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
wisdom
2 Chronicles 31:20,21 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and worked that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God...
Proverbs 3:13-18 Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that gets understanding...
Isaiah 3:10,11 Say you to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings...
John 16:24 Till now have you asked nothing in my name: ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.
Romans 14:17,18 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost...
James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits...
to the sinner
Job 27:16,17 Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay...
Proverbs 13:22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
Proverbs 28:8 He that by usury and unjust gain increases his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
Ecclesiastes 2:26 Parallel Commentaries
Amass Chasing Gather Gathering Gives God's Good Heap Joy Leave Pleases Sight Sinner Spirit Striving Task Toil Travail Vanity Vexation Wind WisdomAmass Chasing Gather Gathering Gives God's Good Heap Joy Leave Pleases Sight Sinner Spirit Striving Task Toil Travail Vanity Vexation Wind WisdomTHE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica®.Ecclesiastes 2:26 Mobile Bible
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