24 There is nothing better for a person than to eat, drink, and enjoy[a][b] his work.(A) I have seen that even this is from God’s hand,(B) 25 because who can eat and who can enjoy life[c] apart from him?[d] 26 For to the person who is pleasing in his sight, he gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy;(C) 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.(D) This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. 2:24 Syr, Tg; MT reads There is no good in a person who eats and drinks and enjoys
  2. 2:24 Lit and his soul sees good
  3. 2:25 LXX, Theod, Syr read can drink
  4. 2:25 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr read me

24 A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink(A) and find satisfaction in their own toil.(B) This too, I see, is from the hand of God,(C) 25 for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?(D) 26 To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom,(E) knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth(F) to hand it over to the one who pleases God.(G) This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

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