Ecclesiastes 5:19

19 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; for God troubles him in the mirth of his heart.

Ecclesiastes 5:19 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 5:19

Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth
Which include the whole of a man's substance; all his estate, personal and real; and all his goods and possessions, movable and immovable, as gold, silver, cattle, fields, and farms; which are all the gift of God, by whatsoever means they may be acquired or possessed; and hath given him power;
or, "caused him to have dominion" F18, over his wealth and riches, and not be a slave to them, as many are: but to have so much command of them and of himself, as to eat thereof;
comfortably enjoy them; and dispose of them to his own good, the good of others, and the glory of God. It follows, and to take his portion;
which God hath allotted him; to take it thankfully, and use it freely and comfortably; and to rejoice in his labour;
in the things he has been labouring for, in a cheerful use of them; blessing God for them, and taking the comfort of them; this [is] the gift of God;
to have such power over his substance, and not be a slave to it, and to enjoy the fruits of his labour, in a cheerful and comfortable manner; this is as much the gift of God as riches themselves F19.


FOOTNOTES:

F18 (wjylvh) "eumque dominari eum fecerit", Tigurine version; "imperare fecit eum", Gejerus; "dominari eum fecerit", Rambachius.
F19 "Di tibi divitias dederunt, artemque fruendi", Horat. Ep. l. 1. Ep. 4. v. 7.

Ecclesiastes 5:19 In-Context

17 Behold, I have seen good, that it is a fine thing to eat and to drink, and to see good in all his labour in which he may labour under the sun, the number of the days of his life which God has given to him: for it is his portion.
18 Yea, and every man to whom God has given wealth and possessions, and has given him power to eat thereof, and to receive his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.
19 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; for God troubles him in the mirth of his heart.

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.