Ecclesiastes 3:13

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.

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 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.

15 What is--it already was, and what will be--it already is, for {God will do what he has done.}

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "to see good in all his toil"