Ecclesiastes 2:26

Authorized King James Version (1611)

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.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Prov 13:22 : 22 ¶ A good [man] leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner [is] laid up for the just.
  • Job 27:16-17 : 16 Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay; 17 He may prepare [it], but the just shall put [it] on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.
  • John 16:24 : 24 ‹Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.›
  • Prov 3:13-18 : 13 ¶ Happy [is] the man [that] findeth wisdom, and the man [that] getteth understanding. 14 For the merchandise of it [is] better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 15 She [is] more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. 16 Length of days [is] in her right hand; [and] in her left hand riches and honour. 17 Her ways [are] ways of pleasantness, and all her paths [are] peace. 18 She [is] a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy [is every one] that retaineth her.
  • Prov 28:8 : 8 ¶ He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
  • Eccl 1:14 : 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.
  • Isa 3:10-11 : 10 Say ye to the righteous, that [it shall be] well [with him]: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. 11 Woe unto the wicked! [it shall be] ill [with him]: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
  • Luke 1:6 : 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
  • Job 32:8 : 8 But [there is] a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
  • Gen 7:1 : 1 ¶ And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
  • 2 Chr 31:20-21 : 20 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought [that which was] good and right and truth before the LORD his God. 21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did [it] with all his heart, and prospered.
  • Rom 14:17-18 : 17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18 For he that in these things serveth Christ [is] acceptable to God, and approved of men.
  • 1 Cor 1:30-31 : 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
  • Gal 5:22-23 : 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
  • Col 1:9-9 : 9 ¶ For this cause we also, since the day we heard [it], do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12 ¶ Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
  • Col 3:16-17 : 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
  • Jas 3:17 : 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, [and] easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Similar Verses (AI)

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

  • Eccl 2:19-25
    7 verses
    84%

    19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise [man] or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This [is] also vanity.

    20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.

    21 For there is a man whose labour [is] in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it [for] his portion. This also [is] vanity and a great evil.

    22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?

    23 For all his days [are] sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

    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.

    25 For who can eat, or who else can hasten [hereunto], more than I?

  • Eccl 8:14-15
    2 verses
    79%

    14 ¶ There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just [men], unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked [men], to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also [is] vanity.

    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.

  • Eccl 3:12-13
    2 verses
    78%

    12 I know that [there is] no good in them, but for [a man] to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

    13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it [is] the gift of God.

  • Eccl 2:10-11
    2 verses
    78%

    10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.

    11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all [was] vanity and vexation of spirit, and [there was] no profit under the sun.

  • Eccl 1:13-14
    2 verses
    78%

    13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all [things] that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

    14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • 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?

  • Eccl 5:18-20
    3 verses
    77%

    18 ¶ 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.

    19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this [is] the gift of God.

    20 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth [him] in the joy of his heart.

  • Eccl 1:17-18
    2 verses
    77%

    17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

    18 For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

  • 4 ¶ Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This [is] also vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • Eccl 6:1-2
    2 verses
    77%

    1 ¶ There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it [is] common among men:

    2 A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this [is] vanity, and it [is] an evil disease.

  • 17 ¶ Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun [is] grievous unto me: for all [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • Eccl 7:13-14
    2 verses
    76%

    13 Consider the work of God: for who can make [that] straight, which he hath made crooked?

    14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

  • Eccl 6:8-9
    2 verses
    75%

    8 For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

    9 Better [is] the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this [is] also vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • 17 Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek [it] out, yet he shall not find [it]; yea further; though a wise [man] think to know [it], yet shall he not be able to find [it].

  • Eccl 3:9-10
    2 verses
    75%

    9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

    10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

  • 1 ¶ For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, [are] in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred [by] all [that is] before them.

  • 1 ¶ I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also [is] vanity.

  • 16 And this also [is] a sore evil, [that] in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?

  • 3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

  • 8 There is one [alone], and [there is] not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet [is there] no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither [saith he], For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This [is] also vanity, yea, it [is] a sore travail.

  • Eccl 6:11-12
    2 verses
    74%

    11 ¶ Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what [is] man the better?

    12 For who knoweth what [is] good for man in [this] life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

  • 6 Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up [riches], and knoweth not who shall gather them.

  • 20 ¶ Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter [in] soul;

  • 8 ¶ Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all [is] vanity.

  • 6 ¶ Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man [is] great upon him.

  • 8 But if a man live many years, [and] rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh [is] vanity.

  • 6 Better [is] an handful [with] quietness, than both the hands full [with] travail and vexation of spirit.

  • 15 Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also [is] vanity.

  • 3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what [was] that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.

  • 23 ¶ [It is] as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

  • 16 [There is] no end of all the people, [even] of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • 3 This [is] an evil among all [things] that are done under the sun, that [there is] one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness [is] in their heart while they live, and after that [they go] to the dead.