Ecclesiastes 8:15

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

So I praised enjoyment, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat, drink, and be glad. This will accompany them in their toil through the days of life that God has given them under the sun.

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

    Then I commended mirth, bause 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.

  • KJV1611 – Modern English

    So I commended joy, because a man has no better thing under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry; for this will remain with him in his labor the days of his life, which God gives him under the sun.

  • King James Version 1611 (Original)

    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.

  • American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

    Then I commended{H7623} mirth,{H8057} because a man{H120} hath no better thing{H2896} under the sun,{H8121} than to eat,{H398} and to drink,{H8354} and to be joyful:{H8055} for that shall abide{H3867} with him in his labor{H5999} [all] the days{H3117} of his life{H2416} which God{H430} hath given{H5414} him under the sun.{H8121}

  • King James Version with Strong's Numbers

    Then I commended{H7623}{(H8765)} mirth{H8057}, because a man{H120} hath no better thing{H2896} under the sun{H8121}, than to eat{H398}{(H8800)}, and to drink{H8354}{(H8800)}, and to be merry{H8055}{(H8800)}: for that shall abide{H3867}{(H8799)} with him of his labour{H5999} the days{H3117} of his life{H2416}, which God{H430} giveth{H5414}{(H8804)} him under the sun{H8121}.

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    Therfore I commende gladnesse, because a man hath no better thinge vnder the Sonne, then to eate and drynke, and to be mery: for that shal he haue of his laboure all the daies of his life, which God geueth him vnder the Sonne.+

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

    And I praysed ioy: for there is no goodnesse to man vnder the sunne, saue to eate and to drinke and to reioyce: for this is adioyned to his labour, the dayes of his life that God hath giuen him vnder the sunne.

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    Therfore I commende gladnesse, because a man hath no better thing vnder the sunne, then to eate and drinke, and to be merie: for that shall he haue of his labour, al the dayes of his life which God geueth hym vnder the sunne.

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

    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.

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

    Then I commended mirth, because a man has no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be joyful: for that will accompany him in his labor all the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.

  • Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

    And I have praised mirth because there is no good to man under the sun except to eat and to drink, and to rejoice, and it remaineth with him of his labour the days of his life that God hath given to him under the sun.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be joyful: for that shall abide with him in his labor `all' the days of his life which God hath given him under the sun.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be joyful: for that shall abide with him in his labor [all] the days of his life which God hath given him under the sun.

  • Bible in Basic English (1941)

    So I gave praise to joy, because there is nothing better for a man to do under the sun than to take meat and drink and be happy; for that will be with him in his work all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun.

  • World English Bible (2000)

    Then I commended mirth, because a man has no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be joyful: for that will accompany him in his labor all the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.

  • NET Bible® (New English Translation)

    Enjoy Life In Spite of Its Injustices So I recommend the enjoyment of life, for there is nothing better on earth for a person to do except to eat, drink, and enjoy life. So joy will accompany him in his toil during the days of his life which God gives him on earth.

Referenced Verses

  • Eccl 2:24 : 24 There is nothing better for a person than to eat and drink and find enjoyment in their work. This too, I realized, is from the hand of God.
  • Eccl 5:18 : 18 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and enables them to enjoy it, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.
  • Eccl 3:12-13 : 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to rejoice and to do good while they live. 13 And also that every person should eat, drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.
  • Eccl 3:22 : 22 So I saw that there is nothing better than for a person to rejoice in their work, for that is their lot. Who can bring them to see what will happen after them?
  • Eccl 9:7-9 : 7 Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a glad heart, for God has already approved your works. 8 Let your clothes always be white, and do not let oil be lacking on your head. 9 Enjoy life with the wife you love all the days of your meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your portion in life and in your hard work under the sun.
  • 1 Tim 4:3-4 : 3 They will forbid marriage and require abstinence from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.
  • 1 Tim 6:17 : 17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be arrogant or to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Eccl 5:17-19
    3 verses
    86%

    17 Behold, what I have seen is good and fitting: to eat and drink and to enjoy the good of all one's labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him, for this is his reward.

    18 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and enables them to enjoy it, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.

    19 For they seldom reflect on the days of their life because God keeps them occupied with joy in their hearts.

  • Eccl 2:17-26
    10 verses
    86%

    17 So I hated life, because the work done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

    18 I hated all my toil under the sun because I must leave it to the one who comes after me.

    19 And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will rule over all the fruit of my labor that I have worked for under the sun. This too is meaningless.

    20 So I turned my heart to despair over all the hard work with which I had labored under the sun.

    21 For there is a person who labors with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, but then must leave everything to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.

    22 What does a person gain from all their labor and from the striving of their heart under the sun?

    23 All their days are full of sorrow, and their work is filled with grief; even at night their mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.

    24 There is nothing better for a person than to eat and drink and find enjoyment in their work. This too, I realized, is from the hand of God.

    25 For who can eat or who can enjoy life apart from Him?

    26 To the person who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, He gives the task of gathering and storing wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

  • Eccl 3:12-13
    2 verses
    83%

    12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to rejoice and to do good while they live.

    13 And also that every person should eat, drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.

  • Eccl 3:22
    82%

    22 So I saw that there is nothing better than for a person to rejoice in their work, for that is their lot. Who can bring them to see what will happen after them?

  • Eccl 9:7
    80%

    7 Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a glad heart, for God has already approved your works.

  • Eccl 9:9-10
    2 verses
    80%

    9 Enjoy life with the wife you love all the days of your meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your portion in life and in your hard work under the sun.

    10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

  • Eccl 2:1-3
    3 verses
    80%

    1 I said to myself, 'Come now, I will test you with pleasure to see what is good.' But behold, this too was meaningless.

    2 I said of laughter, 'It is madness,' and of joy, 'What does it accomplish?'

    3 I explored with my heart how to cheer my body with wine, while my mind guided me with wisdom, and how to embrace folly until I could see what is good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.

  • Eccl 11:7-9
    3 verses
    78%

    7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.

    8 For if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in all of them, but let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. All that comes is meaningless.

    9 Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart be glad in the days of your prime. Follow the ways of your heart and the sights of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

  • Eccl 2:10-11
    2 verses
    77%

    10 Anything my eyes desired, I did not withhold from them; I did not keep my heart from any pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, for this was my reward for all my efforts.

    11 Yet when I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, behold, everything was meaningless—a chasing after the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun.

  • Eccl 6:11-12
    2 verses
    76%

    11 The more words, the more meaningless—and what advantage does that bring to anyone?

    12 For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few days of their fleeting life? They pass like a shadow. Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?

  • Prov 15:15
    75%

    15 All the days of the afflicted are miserable, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

  • Eccl 8:16-17
    2 verses
    75%

    16 When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to observe the work that is done on earth, even though people do not see sleep with their eyes day or night,

    17 then I saw all the work of God, that no one can understand the work that is done under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can comprehend it. Even if the wise claim to know, they cannot truly understand it.

  • Eccl 10:19
    75%

    19 Bread is made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.

  • Eccl 1:3
    75%

    3 What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?

  • Ps 104:15
    75%

    15 wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts.

  • Eccl 7:14
    74%

    14 When times are good, be joyful; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.

  • Eccl 7:2
    74%

    2 It is better to go to a house of mourning than to a house of feasting, because death is the destination of everyone, and the living should take it to heart.

  • Eccl 8:14
    74%

    14 There is a futility that takes place on the earth: righteous people receive what the wicked deserve, and wicked people receive what the righteous deserve. I said, 'This too is vanity.'

  • Isa 22:13
    73%

    13 But behold, there is joy and gladness—killing cattle and slaughtering sheep, eating meat and drinking wine—saying, 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!'

  • Eccl 4:3
    73%

    3 But better than both is the one who has not yet been born, who has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

  • Eccl 6:7
    73%

    7 All human toil is for their mouth, yet their appetite is never satisfied.

  • Eccl 1:13-14
    2 verses
    73%

    13 I set my heart to seek and explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a burdensome task God has given to the human race to occupy themselves with!

    14 I have seen all the deeds that are done under the sun; they are all meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

  • Prov 14:13
    72%

    13 Even in laughter, the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief.

  • Eccl 12:8
    72%

    8 'Utter futility,' says the Teacher. 'Everything is futile!'

  • Prov 8:31
    72%

    31 Rejoicing in His whole world and delighting in the sons of men.

  • Luke 12:19
    72%

    19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take it easy, eat, drink, and be merry.”'

  • Eccl 4:7
    72%

    7 Again, I turned and saw meaninglessness under the sun.

  • Eccl 3:10
    72%

    10 I have seen the burden that God has laid on the human race.