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18 Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life.

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18 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink(A) and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor(B) under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot.

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24 So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God.

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24 A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink(A) and find satisfaction in their own toil.(B) This too, I see, is from the hand of God,(C)

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22 So I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is our lot in life. And no one can bring us back to see what happens after we die.

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22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work,(A) because that is their lot.(B) For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?

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12 So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. 13 And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.

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12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink,(A) and find satisfaction(B) in all their toil—this is the gift of God.(C)

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17 Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.

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17 Command those who are rich(A) in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth,(B) which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God,(C) who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.(D)

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So go ahead. Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this!

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Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine(A) with a joyful heart,(B) for God has already approved what you do.

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15 So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.

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15 So I commend the enjoyment of life(A), because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink(B) and be glad.(C) Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.

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10 Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors.

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10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
    I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my labor,
    and this was the reward for all my toil.

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Young people,[a] it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do.

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Footnotes

  1. 11:9 Hebrew Young man.

You who are young, be happy while you are young,
    and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
    and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
    God will bring you into judgment.(A)

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34 So the Babylonian king gave him a regular food allowance as long as he lived. This continued until the day of his death.

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34 Day by day the king of Babylon gave Jehoiachin a regular allowance(A) as long as he lived, till the day of his death.

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