Parallel Verses

Holman Bible

I have seen that there is nothing better than for a person to enjoy his activities because that is his reward. For who can enable him to see what will happen after he dies?

New American Standard Bible

I have seen that nothing is better than that man should be happy in his activities, for that is his lot. For who will bring him to see what will occur after him?

King James Version

Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

International Standard Version

I concluded that it is worthwhile for people to find joy in their accomplishments, because that is their inheritance, since who can see what will exist after them?

A Conservative Version

Therefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works, for that is his portion. For who shall bring him [back] to see what shall be after him?

American Standard Version

Wherefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him back to see what shall be after him?

Amplified

So I have seen that there is nothing better than that a man should be happy in his own works and activities, for that is his portion (share). For who will bring him [back] to see what will happen after he is gone?

Bible in Basic English

So I saw that there is nothing better than for a man to have joy in his work--because that is his reward. Who will make him see what will come after him?

Darby Translation

And I have seen that there is nothing better than that man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion; for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

Julia Smith Translation

And I saw that no good more than that man shall rejoice in his works; for this is his portion: for who shall bring him to look upon what shall be after him?

King James 2000

Therefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his lot: for who can bring him to see what shall be after him?

Lexham Expanded Bible

So I concluded that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy [the fruit of] his labor, for this is his lot in life. {For no one knows what will happen in the future.}

Modern King James verseion

Therefore I have seen that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion; for who can bring him to see what shall be after him?

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

Wherefore I perceive, that there is nothing better for a man, than to be joyful in his labour, for that is his portion. But who will bring him to see the thing that shall come after him?

NET Bible

So I perceived there is nothing better than for people to enjoy their work, because that is their reward; for who can show them what the future holds?

New Heart English Bible

Therefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who can bring him to see what will be after him?

The Emphasized Bible

So I saw, that there was nothing better than that a man should be glad in his works, for, that, is his portion, - for who can bring him in, to look upon that which shall be after him?

Webster

Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

World English Bible

Therefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who can bring him to see what will be after him?

Youngs Literal Translation

And I have seen that there is nothing better than that man rejoice in his works, for it is his portion; for who doth bring him in to look on that which is after him?

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
אדם 
'adam 
Usage: 541

שׂמח 
Samach 
Usage: 155

מעשׂה 
Ma`aseh 
Usage: 234

חלק 
Cheleq 
Usage: 67


come, bring, ... in, enter, go, carry, ...down, pass, ...out,
Usage: 0

him to see
ראה 
Ra'ah 
Usage: 1308

אחר 
'achar 
Usage: 488

References

Context Readings

God's Mysterious Plan Allows Injustice To Exist In The World

21 Who knows if the spirit of people rises upward and the spirit of animals goes downward to the earth? 22 I have seen that there is nothing better than for a person to enjoy his activities because that is his reward. For who can enable him to see what will happen after he dies?

Cross References

Ecclesiastes 2:24

There is nothing better for man than to eat, drink, and enjoy his work. I have seen that even this is from God’s hand,

Ecclesiastes 6:12

For who knows what is good for man in life, in the few days of his futile life that he spends like a shadow? Who can tell man what will happen after him under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 8:7

Yet no one knows what will happen because who can tell him what will happen?

Ecclesiastes 10:14

Yet the fool multiplies words.
No one knows what will happen,
and who can tell anyone what will happen after him?

Ecclesiastes 3:11-12

He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, but man cannot discover the work God has done from beginning to end.

Deuteronomy 12:7

You will eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice with your household in everything you do, because the Lord your God has blessed you.

Deuteronomy 12:18

You must eat them in the presence of the Lord your God at the place the Lord your God chooses—you, your son and daughter, your male and female slave, and the Levite who is within your gates. Rejoice before the Lord your God in everything you do,

Deuteronomy 26:10-11

I have now brought the first of the land’s produce that You, Lord, have given me.

You will then place the container before the Lord your God and bow down to Him.

Deuteronomy 28:47

Because you didn’t serve the Lord your God with joy and a cheerful heart, even though you had an abundance of everything,

Job 14:21

If his sons receive honor, he does not know it;
if they become insignificant, he is unaware of it.

Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

All that my eyes desired, I did not deny them. I did not refuse myself any pleasure, for I took pleasure in all my struggles. This was my reward for all my struggles.

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

Here is what I have seen to be good: it is appropriate to eat, drink, and experience good in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of his life God has given him, because that is his reward.

Ecclesiastes 8:15

So I commended enjoyment because there is nothing better for man under the sun than to eat, drink, and enjoy himself, for this will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 9:7-9

Go, eat your bread with pleasure, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already accepted your works.

Ecclesiastes 9:12

For man certainly does not know his time: like fish caught in a cruel net or like birds caught in a trap, so people are trapped in an evil time as it suddenly falls on them.

Ecclesiastes 11:9

Rejoice, young man, while you are young,
and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth.
And walk in the ways of your heart
and in the sight of your eyes;
but know that for all of these things God will bring you to judgment.

Daniel 12:9-10

He said, “Go on your way, Daniel, for the words are secret and sealed until the time of the end.

Daniel 12:13

But as for you, go on your way to the end; you will rest, then rise to your destiny at the end of the days.”

Matthew 6:34

Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Romans 12:11-12

Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord.

Philippians 4:4-5

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain