Ecclesiastes 3:12

12 So I realized that there is {nothing better} for them than to {rejoice and enjoy themselves} during their lives.

Ecclesiastes 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 ) .

Ecclesiastes 3:12 In-Context

10 I have seen the busyness God gives to {humans} to preoccupy them.

11 He has made everything suitable in its time. He also has put {the past} in their hearts, yet no one can grasp what God does from the beginning to the end.

12 So I realized that there is {nothing better} for them than to {rejoice and enjoy themselves} during their lives.

13 And for anyone to eat and drink, that is, {to enjoy the fruit of all his toil}, this also is a gift of God.

14 I know everything God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, and nothing can be taken from it, for God so acts that humans might stand in awe before him.

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "no good"
• [b] Literally "to rejoice and to do good"