Ecclesiastes 5:19

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

To every man whom God has given wealth, and possessions, he has also given him the ability to eat from them, to receive his reward and to find enjoyment in his toil; these things are the gift of God.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Eccl 6:2 : 2 God gives a man riches, property, and wealth so that he lacks nothing that his heart desires, yet God does not enable him to enjoy the fruit of his labor– instead, someone else enjoys it! This is fruitless and a grave misfortune.
  • Eccl 3:13 : 13 and also that everyone should eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all his toil, for these things are a gift from God.
  • Deut 8:18 : 18 You must remember the LORD your God, for he is the one who gives ability to get wealth; if you do this he will confirm his covenant that he made by oath to your ancestors, even as he has to this day.
  • 1 Kgs 3:13 : 13 Furthermore, I am giving you what you did not request– riches and honor so that you will be the greatest king of your generation.
  • 2 Chr 1:12 : 12 you are granted wisdom and discernment. Furthermore I am giving you riches, wealth, and honor surpassing that of any king before or after you.”
  • Eccl 2:24-26 : 24 Enjoy Work and its Benefits There is nothing better for people than to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in their work. I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment comes from God. 25 For no one can eat and drink or experience joy apart from him. 26 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!

Similar Verses (AI)

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

  • Eccl 5:16-18
    3 verses
    87%

    16This is another misfortune: Just as he came, so will he go. What did he gain from toiling for the wind?

    17Surely, he ate in darkness every day of his life, and he suffered greatly with sickness and anger.

    18Enjoy the Fruit of Your Labor I have seen personally what is the only beneficial and appropriate course of action for people: to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all their hard work on earth during the few days of their life which God has given them, for this is their reward.

  • Eccl 3:9-13
    5 verses
    86%

    9Man is Ignorant of God’s Timing What benefit can a worker gain from his toil?

    10I have observed the burden that God has given to people to keep them occupied.

    11God has made everything fit beautifully in its appropriate time, but he has also placed ignorance in the human heart so that people cannot discover what God has ordained, from the beginning to the end of their lives.

    12Enjoy Life in the Present I have concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they live,

    13and also that everyone should eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all his toil, for these things are a gift from God.

  • Eccl 2:24-26
    3 verses
    80%

    24Enjoy Work and its Benefits There is nothing better for people than to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in their work. I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment comes from God.

    25For no one can eat and drink or experience joy apart from him.

    26For 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!

  • Eccl 5:20
    79%

    20For he does not think much about the fleeting days of his life because God keeps him preoccupied with the joy he derives from his activity.

  • Eccl 6:1-2
    2 verses
    77%

    1Not Everyone Enjoys Life Here is another misfortune that I have seen on earth, and it weighs heavily on people:

    2God gives a man riches, property, and wealth so that he lacks nothing that his heart desires, yet God does not enable him to enjoy the fruit of his labor– instead, someone else enjoys it! This is fruitless and a grave misfortune.

  • Eccl 8:15
    77%

    15Enjoy 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.

  • Eccl 3:22
    77%

    22So 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?

  • Eccl 2:10
    75%

    10I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted; I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure. So all my accomplishments gave me joy; this was my reward for all my effort.

  • Eccl 5:11-14
    4 verses
    74%

    11When someone’s prosperity increases, those who consume it also increase; so what does its owner gain, except that he gets to see it with his eyes?

    12The sleep of the laborer is pleasant– whether he eats little or much– but the wealth of the rich will not allow him to sleep.

    13Materialism Thwarts Enjoyment of Life Here is a misfortune on earth that I have seen: Wealth hoarded by its owner to his own misery.

    14Then that wealth was lost through bad luck; although he fathered a son, he has nothing left to give him.

  • Eccl 2:21-22
    2 verses
    74%

    21For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; however, he must hand over the fruit of his labor as an inheritance to someone else who did not work for it. This also is futile, and an awful injustice!

    22Painful Days and Restless Nights What does a man acquire from all his labor and from the anxiety that accompanies his toil on earth?

  • 1 Tim 6:17
    73%

    17Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.

  • Eccl 9:7
    73%

    7Life is Brief, so Cherish its Joys Go, eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, because God has already approved your works.

  • Eccl 5:9
    73%

    9The produce of the land is seized by all of them, even the king is served by the fields.

  • Matt 25:29
    72%

    29For the one who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.

  • Eccl 6:7
    72%

    7All of man’s labor is for nothing more than to fill his stomach– yet his appetite is never satisfied!

  • Ps 128:2
    72%

    2You will eat what you worked so hard to grow. You will be blessed and secure.

  • Eccl 7:14
    71%

    14In times of prosperity be joyful, but in times of adversity consider this: God has made one as well as the other, so that no one can discover what the future holds.

  • Deut 16:17
    71%

    17Every one of you must give as you are able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God that he has given you.

  • Prov 10:22
    71%

    22The blessing from the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow to it.

  • Eccl 9:9-10
    2 verses
    71%

    9Enjoy life with your beloved wife during all the days of your fleeting life that God has given you on earth during all your fleeting days; for that is your reward in life and in your burdensome work on earth.

    10Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, because there is neither work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave, the place where you will eventually go.

  • Eccl 10:19
    71%

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

  • Job 20:29
    71%

    29Such is the lot God allots the wicked, and the heritage of his appointment from God.”

  • Ps 39:6
    70%

    6Surely people go through life as mere ghosts. Surely they accumulate worthless wealth without knowing who will eventually haul it away.”

  • Job 20:18
    70%

    18He gives back the ill-gotten gain without assimilating it; he will not enjoy the wealth from his commerce.

  • Deut 8:17-18
    2 verses
    70%

    17Be careful not to say,“My own ability and skill have gotten me this wealth.”

    18You must remember the LORD your God, for he is the one who gives ability to get wealth; if you do this he will confirm his covenant that he made by oath to your ancestors, even as he has to this day.

  • Luke 12:19
    70%

    19And I will say to myself,“You have plenty of goods stored up for many years; relax, eat, drink, celebrate!”’

  • Eccl 1:3
    70%

    3Futility Illustrated from Nature What benefit do people get from all the effort which they expend on earth?

  • Luke 19:26
    70%

    26‘I tell you that everyone who has will be given more, but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.

  • Eccl 9:1
    70%

    1Everyone Will Die So I reflected on all this, attempting to clear it all up. I concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their works, are in the hand of God; whether a person will be loved or hated– no one knows what lies ahead.

  • Job 31:25
    69%

    25if I have rejoiced because of the extent of my wealth, or because of the great wealth my hand had gained,

  • Ps 17:14
    69%

    14LORD, use your power to deliver me from these murderers, from the murderers of this world! They enjoy prosperity; you overwhelm them with the riches they desire. They have many children, and leave their wealth to their offspring.

  • Num 5:10
    69%

    10Every man’s holy things will be his; whatever any man gives the priest will be his.’”

  • Prov 22:9
    69%

    9A generous person will be blessed, for he has given some of his food to the poor.

  • Ps 104:28
    69%

    28You give food to them and they receive it; you open your hand and they are filled with food.

  • Job 34:9
    69%

    9For he says,‘It does not profit a man when he makes his delight with God.’