Ecclesiastes 2:26
NASB Lexicon
NASB ©HebrewStrong'sOrigin
For to a personלְאָדָם֙
(le·'a·dam)
120: man, mankindfrom an unused word
who 
 
7945: who, which, thata prim. rel. particle
is goodשֶׁטֹּ֣וב
(shet·to·vv)
2896a: pleasant, agreeable, goodfrom tob
in His sightלְפָנָ֔יו
(le·fa·nav,)
6440: face, facesfrom panah
He has givenנָתַ֛ן
(na·tan)
5414: to give, put, seta prim. root
wisdomחָכְמָ֥ה
(cha·che·mah)
2451: wisdomfrom chakam
and knowledgeוְדַ֖עַת
(ve·da·'at)
1847: knowledgefrom yada
and joy,וְשִׂמְחָ֑ה
(ve·sim·chah;)
8057: joy, gladness, mirthfrom samach
while to the sinnerוְלַחֹוטֶא֩
(ve·la·cho·v·te)
2398: to miss, go wrong, sina prim. root
He has givenנָתַ֨ן
(na·tan)
5414: to give, put, seta prim. root
the taskעִנְיָ֜ן
(in·yan)
6045: occupation, taskfrom anah
of gatheringלֶאֱסֹ֣וף
(le·'e·so·vf)
622: to gather, removea prim. root
and collectingוְלִכְנֹ֗וס
(ve·lich·no·vs)
3664: to gather, collecta prim. root
so that he may giveלָתֵת֙
(la·tet)
5414: to give, put, seta prim. root
to one who is goodלְטֹוב֙
(le·to·vv)
2896a: pleasant, agreeable, goodfrom tob
in God'sהָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים
(ha·'e·lo·him,)
430: God, godpl. of eloah
sight.לִפְנֵ֣י
(lif·nei)
6440: face, facesfrom panah
Thisזֶ֥ה
(zeh)
2088: this, herea prim. pronoun
tooגַּם־
(gam-)
1571: also, moreover, yeafrom an unused word
is vanityהֶ֖בֶל
(he·vel)
1892: vapor, breatha prim. root
and strivingוּרְע֥וּת
(u·re·'ut)
7469: longing, strivingfrom the same as rea
after wind.רֽוּחַ׃
(ru·ach.)
7307: breath, wind, spiritfrom an unused word


















KJV Lexicon
For God giveth
nathan  (naw-than')
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
to a man
'adam  (aw-dawm')
ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) -- another, + hypocrite, + common sort, low, man (mean, of low degree), person.
that is good
towb  (tobe)
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun
in his sight
paniym  (paw-neem')
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)
wisdom
chokmah  (khok-maw')
wisdom (in a good sense) -- skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit.
and knowledge
da`ath  (dah'-ath)
knowledge -- cunning, (ig-)norantly, know(-ledge), (un-)awares (wittingly).
and joy
simchah  (sim-khaw')
blithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival) -- exceeding(-ly), gladness, joy(-fulness), mirth, pleasure, rejoice(-ing).
but to the sinner
chata'  (khaw-taw')
to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn
he giveth
nathan  (naw-than')
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
travail
`inyan  (in-yawn')
ado, i.e. (generally) employment or (specifically) an affair -- business, travail.
to gather
'acaph  (aw-saf')
to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e. remove
and to heap up
kanac  (kaw-nas')
to collect; hence, to enfold -- gather (together), heap up, wrap self.
that he may give
nathan  (naw-than')
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
to him that is good
towb  (tobe)
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun
before
paniym  (paw-neem')
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)
God
'elohiym  (el-o-heem')
angels, exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), (very) great, judges, mighty.
This also is vanity
hebel  (heh'bel)
emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb -- altogether, vain, vanity.
and vexation
r`uwth  (reh-ooth')
a feeding upon, i.e. grasping after -- vexation.
of spirit
ruwach  (roo'-akh)
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being
Parallel Verses
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 vanity and striving after 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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

King James 2000 Bible
For God gives to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he gives the work of gathering and heaping up, only that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping of the wind.
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