Écclésiaste 5:18

Louis Segond

Voici ce que j'ai vu: c'est pour l'homme une chose bonne et belle de manger et de boire, et de jouir du bien-être au milieu de tout le travail qu'il fait sous le soleil, pendant le nombre des jours de vie que Dieu lui a donnés; car c'est là sa part.

Parallel Translations

La Bible David Martin (1744)
Voilà [donc] ce que j'ai vu, que c'est une chose bonne et agréable [à l'homme], de manger et de boire, et de jouir du bien de tout son travail qu'il aura fait sous le soleil, durant les jours de sa vie, lesquels Dieu lui a donnés; car c'est là sa portion.

La Bible Ostervald (1996)
Voici ce que j'ai vu: c'est pour l'homme une chose bonne et agréable que de manger, de boire, et de jouir du bien-être, au milieu de tout le travail auquel il se livre sous le soleil, pendant les jours de vie que Dieu lui a donnés; car c'est là son partage.

Darby's French Translation
Voici ce que j'ai vu de bon et de beau: c'est de manger et de boire et de jouir du bien-être dans tout le travail dont l'homme se tourmente sous le soleil tous les jours de sa vie, que Dieu lui a donnés; car c'est là sa part.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

it is good and comely: Heb. there is a good which is comely, etc. Ecclesiastes 2:24, Ecclesiastes 3:12, Ecclesiastes 3:13, Ecclesiastes 3:22, Ecclesiastes 8:15, Ecclesiastes 9:7, Ecclesiastes 11:9, 1 Timothy 6:17

the days: Heb. the number of the days

it is his: Ecclesiastes 2:10, Ecclesiastes 3:22, Jeremiah 52:34

Reciprocal: Genesis 48:15 - fed me Nehemiah 8:10 - Go your way Psalms 128:2 - thou shalt eat Ecclesiastes 1:3 - under Ecclesiastes 2:18 - I hated Ecclesiastes 6:9 - Better Ecclesiastes 9:9 - for Ecclesiastes 11:8 - rejoice 1 Corinthians 7:31 - use 1 Timothy 4:3 - which

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Behold that which I have seen,.... Observed, considered and approved of, and which he recommended and excited attention to, and is as follows;

[it is] good and comely [for one] to eat and to drink; to make use of the creatures God has given for service in a free and liberal manner, without excess, and with moderation; and not deprive a man's self of those things he may lawfully partake of, and are necessary for him: to do this is good for himself, and for the health of his body; and is right in the sight of God, and is comely before men; it is not only lawful, but laudable. There is another version and sense of the words, "it is good to eat and drink him that is fair" q, or comely; Christ, who is fairer than the children of men; to live by faith on him, to eat his flesh, and drink his blood; but this, however true, spiritual, and evangelical, it seems foreign to the text. It follows,

and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him; this last clause, "which God giveth him", is not to be connected with "the good of all his labour"; though it is true, that whatever good is got by labour is the gift of God; but with "all the days of his life"; for the life of man, and all the days of it, be they more or fewer, are the gift of God, and according to his determinate will and pleasure; and throughout this time a man should enjoy, in a comfortable way, with thankfulness to God, the good things he has gotten by his labour and industry, through the blessing of God along with them. This Solomon frequently inculcates; Aben Ezra says, this is the third time, but it seems to be the fourth; see Ecclesiastes 2:24;

for it [is] his portion; that is, in this life; for otherwise, if a good man, he has a better portion in another: this is the part which God has allotted to him here; and it is his duty, and for his good and comfort, to make use of it.

q "Bonum est, cum qui pulcher est, edere et bibere, h. e. Christo per fidem frui; nova et singularis expositio", Rambachius.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Rather, Behold what I have seen to be good, it is pleasant for a man to eat. Such thankful enjoyment is inculcated by the Law Deuteronomy 12:7, Deuteronomy 12:18.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 18. Behold that which I have seen — This is the result of my observations and experience. God gives every man, in the course of his providence, the necessaries of life; and it is his will that he should thankfully use them.

For it is his portion. — What is requisite for him in the lower world; without them his life cannot subsist, and earthly blessings are as truly the portion of his body and animal life, as the salvation of God is the portion of his soul.