Ecclesiastes 2:25

Modern

For apart from Him, who can eat and who can find enjoyment?

Traditional

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

Literal

…for who can eat, and who can enjoy, apart from Him?

Latin

Quis ita devorabit et deliciis affluet ut ego?

Hebrew

English

For apart from Him, who can eat and who can find enjoyment?

Even though life under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:3) is like a vapor (2:23, futile), we should enjoy God's gifts of food, work, and wisdom.

The Teacher examines how wisdom, work, and pleasure relate to each other.

Theme notes and profiles

Ecclesiastes 2:1–12
I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!” But it proved to be futile.
1 Kings 4:21–24
And Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms offered tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.