Ecclesiastes 2:26
BSB · Public Domain (CC0)“To the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He assigns the task of gathering and accumulating that which he will hand over to one who pleases God. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.”
A short, plain-language explanation of Ecclesiastes 2:26 goes here — the kind of answer a reader (or an AI assistant) can quote in one breath. Original meaning coming soon.
“To the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He assigns the task of gathering and accumulating that which he will hand over to one who pleases God. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.”
Berean Standard Bible · Public Domain (CC0)“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.”
King James Version · Public Domain“For to the man that pleaseth him God giveth 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 pleaseth God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.”
American Standard Version · Public Domain“For to a man who <FI>is<Fi> good before Him, He hath given wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; and to a sinner He hath given travail, to gather and to heap up, to give to the good before God. Even this <FI>is<Fi> vanity and vexation of spirit.”
Young's Literal Translation · Public DomainOther passages that echo Ecclesiastes 2:26 — 19 related verses from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Genesis 7:1Then the LORD said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.
- 2 Chronicles 31:20So this is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah. He did what was good and upright and true before the LORD his God.
- Job 27:16Though he heaps up silver like dust and piles up a wardrobe like clay,
- Job 27:17what he lays up, the righteous will wear, and his silver will be divided by the innocent.
- Job 32:8But there is a spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.
- Proverbs 2:6For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
- Proverbs 3:13Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding,
- Proverbs 13:22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous.
- Proverbs 28:8He who increases his wealth by interest and usury lays it up for one who is kind to the poor.
- Ecclesiastes 1:14I have seen all the things that are done under the sun, and have found them all to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.
- Isaiah 3:10Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor.
- Luke 1:6Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
- John 16:24Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
- Romans 14:17For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
- 1 Corinthians 1:30It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.
- Galatians 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- Colossians 1:9For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
- Colossians 3:16Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
- James 3:17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain) via OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).