


Ecclesiastes 5:18
Bible Versions
¶ Behold [that] which I have seen: [it is] good and comely [for one] to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it [is] his portion.
Behold that which I have seen {H7200}: it is good {H2896} and comely {H3303} for one to eat {H398} and to drink {H8354}, and to enjoy {H7200} the good {H2896} of all his labour {H5999} that he taketh {H5998} under the sun {H8121} all {H4557} the days {H3117} of his life {H2416}, which God {H430} giveth {H5414} him: for it is his portion {H2506}.
This is what I have seen to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, drink and enjoy the good that results from all his work that he engages in under the sun for all the days of his life that God has given him, for this is his allotted portion.
Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of life that God has given him—for this is his lot.
Behold, that which I have seen to be good and to be comely is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, wherein he laboreth under the sun, all the days of his life which God hath given him: for this is his portion.
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Ecclesiastes 2:24
[There is] nothing better for a man, [than] that he should eat and drink, and [that] he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it [was] from the hand of God. -
Ecclesiastes 3:12
I know that [there is] no good in them, but for [a man] to rejoice, and to do good in his life. -
Ecclesiastes 3:13
And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it [is] the gift of God. -
Ecclesiastes 3:22
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? -
Ecclesiastes 9:7
Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. -
Ecclesiastes 8:15
Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun. -
1 Timothy 6:17
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
Context
Ecclesiastes, often attributed to "the Preacher" (Qoheleth), is a profound book grappling with the meaning of life "under the sun"—human existence apart from a direct, revealed understanding of God's ultimate plan. Leading up to verse 18, the Preacher has explored the vanity of wealth, the futility of striving for more, and the oppression often found in society (Ecclesiastes 5:10-12). This verse, however, shifts to a more positive, albeit sober, conclusion. It's one of several passages in Ecclesiastes that pivot from despair over life's enigmas to an affirmation of enjoying what God provides, seeing it as a divine gift rather than a pursuit of fleeting happiness.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew phrase translated "good and comely" is tov v'yafeh (טוב ויפה), which carries the sense of being both "good" (morally, functionally beneficial) and "beautiful" or "fitting." It implies that this way of living—enjoying life and labor as God's gift—is not just acceptable but inherently proper and aesthetically pleasing in the eyes of God. The word for "portion" is cheleq (חֵלֶק), which often refers to an allotted share, an inheritance, or a division. In this context, it emphasizes that one's ability to enjoy the fruits of their labor is a specific, assigned blessing from God.
Related Scriptures
This sentiment is echoed in several other passages within Ecclesiastes, highlighting a recurring theme of finding joy in God's provision despite life's uncertainties:
Practical Application
Ecclesiastes 5:18 offers a timeless lesson for modern life. In a world often driven by relentless ambition, consumerism, and the pursuit of fleeting happiness, this verse calls us to: