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Ecclesiastes 3:22

Therefore I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who can bring him to see what will be after him?

World English Bible · Public Domain

Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    Therefore I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who can bring him to see what will be after him?

  • KJV King James Version

    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?

  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    Wherefore I perceived that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion; for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

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Cross-references (21)

Passages linked to Ecclesiastes 3:22 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.

  • Ecclesiastes 2:24 There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.
  • Ecclesiastes 3:11-12 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man can’t find out the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live.
  • Ecclesiastes 6:12 For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spends like a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?
  • Ecclesiastes 8:7 For he doesn’t know that which will be; for who can tell him how it will be?
  • Ecclesiastes 10:14 A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
  • Ecclesiastes 11:9 Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
  • Philippians 4:4-5 Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!” Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
  • Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 Whatever my eyes desired, I didn’t keep from them. I didn’t withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor. Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
  • Deuteronomy 12:7 There you shall eat before Yahweh your God, and you shall rejoice in all that you put your hand to, you and your households, in which Yahweh your God has blessed you.
  • Deuteronomy 12:18 but you shall eat them before Yahweh your God in the place which Yahweh your God shall choose: you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, and the Levite who is within your gates. You shall rejoice before Yahweh your God in all that you put your hand to.
  • Deuteronomy 26:10-11 Now, behold, I have brought the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, Yahweh, have given me.” You shall set it down before Yahweh your God, and worship before Yahweh your God. You shall rejoice in all the good which Yahweh your God has given to you, and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the foreigner who is among you.
  • Deuteronomy 28:47 Because you didn’t serve Yahweh your God with joyfulness and with gladness of heart, by reason of the abundance of all things;
  • Job 14:21 His sons come to honor, and he doesn’t know it. They are brought low, but he doesn’t perceive it of them.
  • Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 Behold, that which I have seen to be good and proper is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, in which he labors under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; for this is his portion. Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat of it, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. For he shall not often reflect on the days of his life; because God occupies him with the joy of his heart.
  • Ecclesiastes 8:15 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.
  • Ecclesiastes 9:7-9 Go your way—eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has already accepted your works. Let your garments be always white, and don’t let your head lack oil. Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your life of vanity, which he has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity, for that is your portion in life, and in your labor in which you labor under the sun.
  • Ecclesiastes 9:12 For man also doesn’t know his time. As the fish that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, even so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly on them.
  • Daniel 12:9-10 He said, “Go your way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked will do wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand; but those who are wise will understand.
  • Daniel 12:13 “But go your way until the end; for you will rest, and will stand in your inheritance at the end of the days.”
  • Matthew 6:34 Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.
  • Romans 12:11-12 not lagging in diligence; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; enduring in troubles; continuing steadfastly in prayer;

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

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Explain this verse (14 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain By the often repetition of this sentence, as Eccl.…

By the often repetition of this sentence, as Eccl. 2:24; 3:12, 22; 5:17 and 8:15, he declareth that man by reason can comprehend nothing better in this life, than to use the gifts of God soberly and comfortably: for to know further, is a special gift of God revealed by his Spirit.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Ecc 3:22 Wherefore I perceive that [there is] nothing…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain There is nothing better, to wit, for a man’s…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better than…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain Better - For a man's present satisfaction. Should rejoice…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 22. A man should rejoice in his own…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Ecc 3:22. I perceive there is nothing better —…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain After him. He knows not who shall be his…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain (Compare Ecc 3:12; Ecc 5:18). Inculcating a thankful enjoyment…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 22. Wherefore — Seeing, then, that man’s hold is…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 22. Wherefore I perceive] The lesson of a tranquil…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain After all, the writer arrives at the conclusion intimated…
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain There is nothing better than that a man should…
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 3:22 happy in their work: Work now stands alone…

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