Ecclésiaste 3:12

12 J'ai reconnu qu'il n'y a de bonheur pour eux qu'à se réjouir et à se donner du bien-être pendant leur vie;

Ecclésiaste 3:12 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 3:12

I know that [there is] no good in them
In these things; as the Arabic version; in the creatures, as Jarchi; in all sublunary enjoyments; in everything the wise man had made a trial of before, as natural Wisdom and knowledge, worldly pleasure, riches, and wealth; the "summun bonum", or happiness of men, did not lie in these things; this he knew by experience, and had the strongest assurance of it: or in them, that is, the children of men, as the Targum: there is no real good thing in them, nor comes out of them, nor is done by them; they cannot think a good thought, nor do a good action, of themselves. Or rather the sense is, I know there is nothing better for them than what follows: but for [a man] to rejoice;
not in sin and sinful pleasures, in a riotous, voluptuous, and epicurean manner; but to be cheerful, and enjoy the blessings of life in a comfortable way, and with a thankful heart; and especially to rejoice in spiritual things, and above all in Christ; and not in any self-boastings or carnal confidences, all such rejoicing is evil; see ( Ecclesiastes 9:7 ) ( Philippians 4:4 ) ( James 4:16 ) . The Targum is,

``but that they rejoice in the joy of the law;''

but it is much better to rejoice in the things of the Gospel, which is indeed a joyful sound; and to do good in his life:
to himself and family, by making use of the good things of life, and not withholding and hoarding them up; and to others, to all men, as opportunity offers, and especially to the household of faith; and not only by liberality and alms deeds, but by doing all good works, from right principles and to right ends, and that always, as long as he lives, ( Galatians 6:9 Galatians 6:10 ) ( Luke 1:75 ) .

Ecclésiaste 3:12 In-Context

10 J'ai vu à quelle occupation Dieu soumet les fils de l'homme.

11 Il fait toute chose bonne en son temps; même il a mis dans leur coeur la pensée de l'éternité, bien que l'homme ne puisse pas saisir l'oeuvre que Dieu fait, du commencement jusqu'à la fin.

12 J'ai reconnu qu'il n'y a de bonheur pour eux qu'à se réjouir et à se donner du bien-être pendant leur vie;

13 mais que, si un homme mange et boit et jouit du bien-être au milieu de tout son travail, c'est là un don de Dieu.

14 J'ai reconnu que tout ce que Dieu fait durera toujours, qu'il n'y a rien à y ajouter et rien à en retrancher, et que Dieu agit ainsi afin qu'on le craigne.