Ecclesiastes 5:20

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

For 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.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Isa 65:13-14 : 13 So this is what the Sovereign LORD says:“Look, my servants will eat, but you will be hungry! Look, my servants will drink, but you will be thirsty! Look, my servants will rejoice, but you will be humiliated! 14 Look, my servants will shout for joy as happiness fills their hearts! But you will cry out as sorrow fills your hearts; you will wail because your spirits will be crushed.
  • Isa 65:21-24 : 21 They will build houses and live in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 No longer will they build a house only to have another live in it, or plant a vineyard only to have another eat its fruit, for my people will live as long as trees, and my chosen ones will enjoy to the fullest what they have produced. 23 They will not work in vain, or give birth to children that will experience disaster. For the LORD will bless their children and their descendants. 24 Before they even call out, I will respond; while they are still speaking, I will hear.
  • Rom 5:1 : 1 The Expectation of Justification Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
  • Deut 28:8-9 : 8 The LORD will decree blessing for you with respect to your barns and in everything you do– yes, he will bless you in the land he is giving you. 9 The LORD will designate you as his holy people just as he promised you, if you keep his commandments and obey him. 10 Then all the peoples of the earth will see that you belong to the LORD, and they will respect you. 11 The LORD will greatly multiply your children, the offspring of your livestock, and the produce of your soil in the land which he promised your ancestors he would give you. 12 The LORD will open for you his good treasure house, the heavens, to give you rain for the land in its season and to bless all you do; you will lend to many nations but you will not borrow from any.
  • Deut 28:47 : 47 The Curse of Military Siege“Because you have not served the LORD your God joyfully and wholeheartedly with the abundance of everything you have,
  • Ps 4:6-7 : 6 Many say,“Who can show us anything good?” Smile upon us, LORD! 7 You make me happier than those who have abundant grain and wine.
  • Ps 37:16 : 16 The little bit that a godly man owns is better than the wealth of many evil men,
  • Isa 64:5 : 5 You assist those who delight in doing what is right, who observe your commandments. Look, you were angry because we violated them continually. How then can we be saved?
  • Rom 5:5-9 : 5 And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 (For rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person perhaps someone might possibly dare to die.) 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, because we have now been declared righteous by his blood, we will be saved through him from God’s wrath. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, since we have been reconciled, will we be saved by his life? 11 Not only this, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.

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
    79%

    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.

    19To 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.

  • 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 11:7-10
    4 verses
    77%

    7Life Should Be Enjoyed Because Death is Inevitable Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for a person to see the sun.

    8So, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all, but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many– all that is about to come is obscure.

    9Enjoy Life to the Fullest under the Fear of God Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes, but know that God will judge your motives and actions.

    10Banish emotional stress from your mind. and put away pain from your body; for youth and the prime of life are fleeting.

  • 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 3:10-13
    4 verses
    76%

    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 2:21-26
    6 verses
    75%

    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?

    23For all day long his work produces pain and frustration, and even at night his mind cannot relax! This also is futile!

    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!

  • Job 21:21
    74%

    21For what is his interest in his home after his death, when the number of his months has been broken off?

  • Eccl 9:7
    74%

    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 9:9-10
    2 verses
    74%

    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 7:14
    74%

    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.

  • Job 33:26
    73%

    26He entreats God, and God delights in him, he sees God’s face with rejoicing, and God restores to him his righteousness.

  • Ps 30:5
    72%

    5For his anger lasts only a brief moment, and his good favor restores one’s life. One may experience sorrow during the night, but joy arrives in the morning.

  • Job 3:20
    72%

    20Longing for Death“Why does God give light to one who is in misery, and life to those whose soul is bitter,

  • Prov 15:15
    72%

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

  • Eccl 2:10
    72%

    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 12:1
    72%

    1Fear God Now Because Old Age and Death Come Quickly So remember your Creator in the days of your youth– before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you will say,“I have no pleasure in them”;

  • Prov 31:7
    71%

    7let them drink and forget their poverty, and remember their misery no more.

  • Job 34:9
    71%

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

  • Eccl 6:5-7
    3 verses
    71%

    5though it never saw the light of day nor knew anything, yet it has more rest than that man–

    6if he should live a thousand years twice, yet does not enjoy his prosperity. For both of them die!

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

  • Job 20:18
    71%

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

  • Job 8:21
    71%

    21He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with gladness.

  • Job 5:17
    71%

    17“Therefore, blessed is the man whom God corrects, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

  • Job 8:19
    71%

    19Indeed, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth others spring up.

  • Prov 15:23
    71%

    23A person has joy in giving an appropriate answer, and a word at the right time– how good it is!

  • Ps 146:5
    71%

    5How blessed is the one whose helper is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,

  • Eccl 6:12
    71%

    12For no one knows what is best for a person during his life– during the few days of his fleeting life– for they pass away like a shadow. Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth.

  • Job 20:4-5
    2 verses
    71%

    4“Surely you know that it has been from old, ever since humankind was placed on the earth,

    5that the elation of the wicked is brief, the joy of the godless lasts but a moment.

  • Ps 49:18
    71%

    18He pronounces this blessing on himself while he is alive:“May men praise you, for you have done well!”

  • Job 20:20
    70%

    20For he knows no satisfaction in his appetite; he does not let anything he desires escape.

  • Ps 128:2
    70%

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

  • Prov 16:20
    70%

    20The one who deals wisely in a matter will find success, and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD.

  • Prov 3:13
    70%

    13Blessings of Obtaining Wisdom Blessed is the one who has found wisdom, and the one who obtains understanding.

  • Job 5:27
    70%

    27Look, we have investigated this, so it is true. Hear it, and apply it for your own good.”