Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. New Living Translation God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. This, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind. English Standard Version For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. Berean Standard Bible To 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. King James Bible 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. New King James Version For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. New American Standard Bible For to a person who is good in His sight, He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God’s sight. This too is futility and striving after wind. NASB 1995 For to a person who is good in His sight He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God’s sight. This too is vanity and striving after wind. NASB 1977 For to a person who is good in His sight He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God’s sight. This too is vanity and striving after wind. Legacy Standard Bible For to a man who is good before Him, He has given wisdom and knowledge and gladness, while to the sinner He has given the endeavor of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good before God. This too is vanity and striving after wind. Amplified Bible For to the person who pleases Him God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who pleases God. This too is vanity and chasing after the wind. Christian Standard Bible For to the person who is pleasing in his sight, he gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and accumulating in order to give to the one who is pleasing in God’s sight. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. Holman Christian Standard Bible For to the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and accumulating in order to give to the one who is pleasing in God’s sight. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. American Standard Version 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. Contemporary English Version If we please God, he will make us wise, understanding, and happy. But if we sin, God will make us struggle for a living, then he will give all we own to someone who pleases him. This makes no more sense than chasing the wind. English Revised Version 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. GOD'S WORD® Translation God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to anyone who pleases him. But to the person who continues to sin, he gives the job of gathering and collecting [wealth]. The sinner must turn his wealth over to the person who pleases God. Even this is pointless. [It's like] trying to catch the wind. Good News Translation God gives wisdom, knowledge, and happiness to those who please him, but he makes sinners work, earning and saving, so that what they get can be given to those who please him. It is all useless. It is like chasing the wind. International Standard Version After all, to the person who is good in God's sight, he gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner he gives the troublesome task of acquiring and accumulating in order to leave it to someone who is good in the sight of God. This also is pointless and chasing after the wind. Majority Standard Bible To 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. NET Bible For to the one who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, he gives the task of amassing wealth--only to give it to the one who pleases God. This task of the wicked is futile--like chasing the wind! New Heart English Bible For 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. Webster's Bible Translation For 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. World English Bible For 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. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionFor to a man who [is] good before Him, He has given wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; and to a sinner He has given travail, to gather and to heap up, to give to the good before God. Even this [is] vanity and distress of spirit. Young's Literal Translation 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. Smith's Literal Translation For to a man good before his face, he gave wisdom and knowledge and gladness: and to him sinning, he gave labor, to gather and to heap up, to give to the good one before the face of God. Also this is vanity and the striving of the spirit. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleGod hath given to a man that is good in his sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he hath given vexation, and superfluous care, to heap up and to gather together, and to give it to him that hath pleased God: but this also is vanity, and a fruitless solicitude of the mind. Catholic Public Domain Version God has given, to the man who is good in his sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and rejoicing. But to the sinner, he has given affliction and needless worrying, so as to add, and to gather, and to deliver, to him who has pleased God. But this, too, is emptiness and a hollow worrying of the mind. New American Bible For to the one who pleases God, he gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the one who displeases, God gives the task of gathering possessions for the one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chase after wind. New Revised Standard Version For to the one who pleases him God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the work of gathering and heaping, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor, to a man who is good in his presence, God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives toil, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who is good in the presence of the LORD. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit, Peshitta Holy Bible Translated For to the man who is good before him he gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, and to sinners he gives the task to increase and to gather and to give what is good before LORD JEHOVAH, and this also is futility and agitation of spirit OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917For to the man that is good in His sight He giveth wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner He giveth the task, to gather and to heap up, that he may leave to him that is good in the sight of God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. Brenton Septuagint Translation For God has given to the man who is good in his sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but he has given to the sinner trouble, to add and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God; for this is also vanity and waywardness of spirit. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Futility of Work…25For apart from Him, who can eat and who can find enjoyment? 26To 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. Cross References Proverbs 13:22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous. Job 27:16-17 Though he heaps up silver like dust and piles up a wardrobe like clay, / what he lays up, the righteous will wear, and his silver will be divided by the innocent. Matthew 25:29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Proverbs 28:8 He who increases his wealth by interest and usury lays it up for one who is kind to the poor. James 1:5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. 1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.” James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow. Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD enriches, and He adds no sorrow to it. Luke 12:20-21 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’ / This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.” 1 Timothy 6:17 Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy. Psalm 112:3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Romans 8:28 And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. 1 Kings 3:12-13 behold, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been another like you, nor will there ever be. / Moreover, I will give you what you did not request—both riches and honor—so that during all your days no man in any kingdom will be your equal. 2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. Treasury of Scripture For God gives to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he gives 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. in his sight 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. 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 wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God… Proverbs 3:13-18 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding… 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… 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 leaveth 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 increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor. Jump to Previous Amass Chasing Gather Gathering Gives God's Good Heap Joy Leave Pleases Sight Sinner Spirit Striving Task Toil Travail Vanity Vexation Wind WisdomJump to Next Amass Chasing Gather Gathering Gives God's Good Heap Joy Leave Pleases Sight Sinner Spirit Striving Task Toil Travail Vanity Vexation Wind WisdomEcclesiastes 2 1. the vanity of human courses is the work of pleasure12. Though the wise be better than the fool, yet both have one event 18. The vanity of human labor, in leaving it they know not to whom 24. Nothing better than joy in our labor but that is God's gift To the man who is pleasing in His sight The phrase "pleasing in His sight" suggests a relationship of favor and approval from God. In Hebrew, the word often translated as "pleasing" is "טוֹב" (tov), which means good or favorable. This implies a life aligned with God's will, characterized by righteousness and obedience. Historically, those who walked in God's ways were seen as recipients of His blessings, as seen in the lives of figures like Abraham and David. This phrase sets the stage for understanding the divine favor that follows. He gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy but to the sinner He assigns the task of gathering and accumulating to give to the one who is pleasing in God’s sight This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind
Hebrew Toכִּ֤י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction the man לְאָדָם֙ (lə·’ā·ḏām) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being who is pleasing שֶׁטּ֣וֹב (šeṭ·ṭō·wḇ) Pronoun - relative | Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good in His sight, לְפָנָ֔יו (lə·p̄ā·nāw) Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 6440: The face He gives נָתַ֛ן (nā·ṯan) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set wisdom חָכְמָ֥ה (ḥāḵ·māh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 2451: Wisdom and knowledge וְדַ֖עַת (wə·ḏa·‘aṯ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 1847: Knowledge and joy, וְשִׂמְחָ֑ה (wə·śim·ḥāh) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 8057: Blithesomeness, glee but to the sinner וְלַחוֹטֶא֩ (wə·la·ḥō·w·ṭe) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 2398: To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn He assigns נָתַ֨ן (nā·ṯan) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set the task עִנְיָ֜ן (‘in·yān) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6045: Ado, employment, an affair of gathering לֶאֱס֣וֹף (le·’ĕ·sō·wp̄) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 622: To gather for, any purpose, to receive, take away, remove and accumulating [that which] וְלִכְנ֗וֹס (wə·liḵ·nō·ws) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 3664: To collect, to enfold he will hand over לָתֵת֙ (lā·ṯêṯ) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 5414: To give, put, set to one who pleases לְטוֹב֙ (lə·ṭō·wḇ) Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good God. הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative This זֶ֥ה (zeh) Pronoun - masculine singular Strong's 2088: This, that too גַּם־ (gam-) Conjunction Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and is futile הֶ֖בֶל (he·ḇel) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1892: Emptiness, vanity, transitory, unsatisfactory and a pursuit וּרְע֥וּת (ū·rə·‘ūṯ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 7469: A feeding upon, grasping after of the wind. רֽוּחַ׃ (rū·aḥ) Noun - common singular Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit Links Ecclesiastes 2:26 NIVEcclesiastes 2:26 NLT Ecclesiastes 2:26 ESV Ecclesiastes 2:26 NASB Ecclesiastes 2:26 KJV Ecclesiastes 2:26 BibleApps.com Ecclesiastes 2:26 Biblia Paralela Ecclesiastes 2:26 Chinese Bible Ecclesiastes 2:26 French Bible Ecclesiastes 2:26 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 2:26 For to the man who pleases him (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.) |
    |