Parallel Verses
The Emphasized Bible
For, to a man who is good before him, hath he given wisdom and knowledge and gladness, - whereas, to the sinner, he hath given employment, to gather and heap up, to give to one who is good before God, even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.
New American Standard Bible
For to a person who is good in His sight
King James Version
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 Bible
For to the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy,
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.
A Conservative Version
For to the man who pleases him [God] gives wisdom and 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 striving after 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.
Amplified
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.
Bible in Basic English
To the man with whom he is pleased, God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the work of getting goods together and storing up wealth, to give to him in whom God has pleasure. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind.
Darby Translation
For he 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 in God's sight. This also is vanity and pursuit of the wind.
Julia Smith 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.
King James 2000
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.
Lexham Expanded Bible
For to the person who [is] good in his eyes, he gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and heaping up only to give [it] to [him who is] pleasing to him. This also [is] vanity and chasing wind!
Modern King James verseion
For God gives wisdom, and knowledge, and joy to a man who is good in His sight. But to the sinner He gives labor, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
He giveth unto man, what it pleaseth him; whether it be wisdom, understanding, or gladness. But unto the sinner he giveth weariness and sorrow, that he may gather and heap together the thing, that afterward shall be given unto him whom it pleaseth God. This is now a vain thing, yea a very disquietness and vexation of mind.
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
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.
Youngs 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.
Themes
Accumulation of wealth » The accumulation of, disappointing
Care » Worldly folly of » The sinners' portion
Gifts » From God » According to the character of men
the Gifts of God » Are dispensed according to his will
God's Promises » Of spiritual gifts » Of wisdom
Happiness/joy » Who God gives joy to
Knowledge » Who God gives knowledge to
Profit and loss » Loss » The wages of sin do not profit
earthly Riches » The perils of » Fleeting and uncertain
earthly Riches » The perils of » The accumulation of, disappointing
Sin » Unpardonable, the » Wages of
Wealth » Accumulation of » The accumulation of, disappointing
Wisdom » The lord giving wisdom
Wisdom » True wisdom, general references to » Promised
Topics
Interlinear
Nathan
Towb
Paniym
Chata'
Nathan
Nathan
Towb
Paniym
'elohiym
References
Hastings
Word Count of 20 Translations in Ecclesiastes 2:26
Verse Info
Context Readings
Is There Real Happiness In Life?
25 For who could eat and who could enjoy, so well as I? 26 For, to a man who is good before him, hath he given wisdom and knowledge and gladness, - whereas, to the sinner, he hath given employment, to gather and heap up, to give to one who is good before God, even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.
Phrases
Names
Cross References
Proverbs 13:22
A good man, leaveth an inheritance to children's children, but, laid up for the righteous, is the wealth of the sinner.
Job 27:16-17
Though he heap up silver like, dust, and, like a pile, he prepare clothing,
John 16:24
Until even now, ye have asked nothing in my name: Be asking, and ye shall receive, - that, your joy, may be made full.
Genesis 7:1
And Yahweh said to Noah, Enter thou and all thy house, into the ark, - for, thee, have I seen righteous before me, in this generation.
2 Chronicles 31:20-21
And Hezekiah did thus, throughout all Judah, - and he did that which was good and right and faithful, before Yahweh his God.
Job 32:8
Yet surely, there is a spirit in men, and, the inspiration of the Almighty, giveth them understanding;
Proverbs 3:13-18
How happy the man who hath found wisdom, and the man who draweth forth understanding,
Proverbs 28:8
He that increaseth his substance by interest and profit, for one ready to favour the poor, doth gather it.
Ecclesiastes 1:14
I saw all the works which were done under the sun, - and lo! all, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.
Isaiah 3:10-11
Say ye to the righteous It is well! For the fruit of their doings, shall they eat:
Luke 1:6
Now they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and righteous appointments of the Lord, blameless;
Romans 14:17-18
For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in Holy Spirit;
1 Corinthians 1:30-31
But, of him, are, ye, in Christ Jesus, who hath been made wisdom unto us, from God, - both righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
Galatians 5:22-23
But, the fruit of the Spirit, is - love, joy, peace, long-suffering, graciousness, goodness, faithfulness,
Colossians 1:9-12
For this cause, we also, from the day when we heard of you , cease not, in your behalf, praying and asking - that ye may be filled unto the personal knowledge of his will, in all spiritual wisdom and discernment,
Colossians 3:16-17
Let, the word of the Christ, dwell within you richly, - in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another, with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, with gratitude, raising song with your hearts unto God:
James 3:17
But, the wisdom from above, is - first pure, then peaceable, reasonable, easy to be entreated, fraught with mercy and good fruits, without partiality, without hypocrisy.