Ecc 5:18-20 | NETfull | STEP | I have seen personally what is the only beneficial and appropriate course of action for people: to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all their hard work on earth during the few days of their life which God has given them, for this is their reward.

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

Enjoy the Fruit of Your Labor

18 I have seen personally what is the only beneficial and appropriate course of action for people: ^{▼▼ Heb “Behold, that which I have seen, I, good which is beautiful.” The phrase “for people” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.}
to eat and drink, ^{▼▼ The phrase “to eat and to drink” is a common idiom in Ecclesiastes for a person enjoying the fruit of his labor (e.g., 2:24; 3:13).} and find enjoyment in all their ^{▼▼ Heb “his,” and three times later in the verse.} hard work ^{▼▼ Heb “the toil which one toils.”} on earth ^{▼▼ Heb “under the sun.”}
during the few days of their life which God has given them,
for this is their reward. ^{▼▼ The term חֵלֶק (kheleq, “lot”) has a wide range of meanings: (1) “share of spoils” (Gen 14:24; Num 31:36; 1 Sam 30:24), (2) “portion of food” (Lev 6:10; Deut 18:8; Hab 1:16), (3) “portion [or tract] of land” (Deut 10:9; 12:12; Josh 19:9), (4) “portion” or “possession” (Num 18:20; Deut 32:9), (5) “inheritance” (2 Kgs 9:10; Amos 7:4), (6) “portion” or “award” (Job 20:29; 27:13; 31:2; Isa 17:14) or “profit; reward” (Eccl 2:10, 21; 3:22; 5:17–18; 9:6, 9); see HALOT 323 s.v. II חֵלֶק; BDB 324 s.v. חֵלֶק. Throughout Ecclesiastes, the term is used in reference to man’s temporal profit from his labor and his reward from God (e.g., Eccl 3:22; 9:9).}
19 To every man whom God has given wealth, and possessions,
he has also given him the ability ^{▼▼ The syntax of this verse is difficult. The best approach is to view הִשְׁלִיטוֹ (hishlito, “he has given him the ability”) as governing the three following infinitives: לֶאֱכֹל (le’ekhol, “to eat”), וְלָשֵׂאת (v^elase’t, “and to lift” = “to accept [or receive]”), and וְלִשְׂמֹחַ (v^elismoakh, “and to rejoice”). This statement parallels 2:24–26 which states that no one can find enjoyment in life unless God gives him the ability to do so.}
to eat from them, to receive his reward and to find enjoyment in his toil;
these things ^{▼▼ Heb “this.” The feminine singular demonstrative pronoun זֹה (zoh, “this”) refers back to all that preceded it in the verse (e.g., GKC 440–41 #135.p), that is, the ability to enjoy the fruit of one’s labor is the gift of God (e.g., Eccl 2:24–26). The phrase “these things” is used in the translation for clarity.} are the gift of God.
20 For he does not think ^{▼▼ The verb זָכַר (zakhar, “to remember”) may be nuanced “to call to mind; to think about,” that is, “to reflect upon” (e.g., Isa 47:7; Lam 1:9; Job 21:6; 36:24; 40:32; Eccl 11:8); cf. BDB 270 s.v. זָכַר 5; HALOT 270 s.v. I זכר 2.} much about the fleeting ^{▼▼ The word “fleeting” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.} days of his life
because God keeps him preoccupied ^{▼▼ The term מַעֲנֵה (ma’aneh, Hiphil participle ms from II עָנָה, ’anah, “to be occupied”) refers to activity that keeps a person physically busy and mentally preoccupied, e.g., Eccl 1:13; 3:10; 5:19 (HALOT 854; BDB 775 s.v. עָנָה II). The related noun עִנְיַן (’inyan,“business; occupation; task”) refers to activity that keeps man busy and occupies his time, e.g., Eccl 1:13; 2:26; 3:10 (HALOT 857; BDB 775 s.v. עִנְיָן). The participle form is used to emphasize durative, uninterrupted, continual action.} with the joy he derives from his activity. ^{▼▼ Heb “with the joy of his heart.” The words “he derives from his activity” do not appear in the Hebrew, but they are added to clarify the Teacher’s point in light of what he says right before this.}