¹⁵So I laud gladness, for there is nothing good for ^aa man under the sun except to eat and to drink and to ¹be merry, and this will join with him in his labor throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.

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Footnotes

1Or be glad, cf. 8:15a; 3:12, 22; 5:19; Luke 12:19

Cross references

a Eccl 2:24; 3:12, 13; 5:18; 9:7

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

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

CSBChristian Standard Bible

So I commended enjoyment because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat, drink, and enjoy himself, for this will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.

NLTNew Living Translation

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.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

So I recommend enjoyment. For there is nothing better for man under the sun than to eat and to drink and to rejoice. This will accompany him in his toil the days of his life that God gives to him under the sun.

KJV 1900King James Version

Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.

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