Ecclesiastes 3:13

13 God wants all people to eat and drink and be happy in their work, which are gifts from God.

Ecclesiastes 3:13 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 3:13

And also that every man should eat and drink
Not to excess, but in moderation; and yet freely, plentifully, and cheerfully; and not alone, but giving the poor a portion with him; and in all having in view the glory of God, ( 1 Corinthians 10:31 ) ; and enjoy the good of all his labour;
take the comfort of what he has been labouring for, and not lay it up for, and leave it to, he knows not who: the Targum is,

``and see good in his days, and cause his children, at the time of his death, to inherit all his labour;''
it [is] the gift of God;
not only to have, but to enjoy, and make a proper use of the mercies of life. This is the same doctrine which is delivered ( Ecclesiastes 2:24 ) .

Ecclesiastes 3:13 In-Context

11 God has given them a desire to know the future. He does everything just right and on time, but people can never completely understand what he is doing.
12 So I realize that the best thing for them is to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live.
13 God wants all people to eat and drink and be happy in their work, which are gifts from God.
14 I know that everything God does will continue forever. People cannot add anything to what God has done, and they cannot take anything away from it. God does it this way to make people respect him.
15 What happens now has happened in the past, and what will happen in the future has happened before. God makes the same things happen again and again.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.