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Ecclesiastes 2:24-26
New Catholic Bible
Ecclesiastes 2:24-26
New Catholic Bible
24 The Happiness of Simple Things.[a] There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and to experience pleasure in his achievements. And I also came to realize that this too comes from God’s hand. 25 For without him who could eat or drink?
26 God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to those who please him, but to sinners he gives the task of gathering and amassing wealth that is to be given to someone who pleases him. This also is vanity and a chase after the wind.[b]
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- Ecclesiastes 2:24 The acknowledgment that life is a gift frees us from the deception of time that flies, and this happiness suffices for the ancient sages; Qoheleth is appreciative of this simple happiness, for he knows that true happiness is found only in acknowledging and revering God (Eccl 12:13).
- Ecclesiastes 2:26 Qoheleth finds fault with the teaching of the sages concerning the problem of the wicked who prosper (see Job 27:16-17; Prov 11:8; 13:22). For him, this teaching about divine justice does not seem to be borne out by facts.
