Internet Verse Search Commentaries Word Analysis ITL - draft

Ecclesiastes 3:12

NETBible	I have concluded¹ that there is nothing better for people² than³ to be happy and to enjoy themselves⁴ as long as they live,
NIV © biblegateway Ecc 3:12	I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.
NASB © biblegateway Ecc 3:12	I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime;
NLT © biblegateway Ecc 3:12	So I concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they can.
MSG © biblegateway Ecc 3:12	I've decided that there's nothing better to do than go ahead and have a good time and get the most we can out of life.
BBE © SABDAweb Ecc 3:12	I am certain that there is nothing better for a man than to be glad, and to do good while life is in him.
NRSV © bibleoremus Ecc 3:12	I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live;
NKJV © biblegateway Ecc 3:12	I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives,
[+] More English


KJV	I know <03045> (8804) that [there is] no good <02896> in them, but for [a man] to rejoice <08055> (8800)_, and to do <06213> (8800) good <02896> in his life <02416>_.
NASB © biblegateway Ecc 3:12	I know <03045> that there <0369> is nothing <0369> better <02896> for them than <03588> <518> to rejoice <08055> and to do <06213> good <02896> in one's lifetime <02425> ;
LXXM	egnwn <1097> V-AAI-1S oti <3754> CONJ ouk <3364> ADV estin <1510> V-PAI-3S agayon <18> A-ASM en <1722> PREP autoiv <846> D-DPM ei <1487> CONJ mh <3165> ADV tou <3588> T-GSN eufranyhnai <2165> V-APN kai <2532> CONJ tou <3588> T-GSN poiein <4160> V-PAN agayon <18> A-ASM en <1722> PREP zwh <2222> N-DSF autou <846> D-GSM
NET [draft] ITL	I have concluded <03045> that <03588> there is nothing <0369> better <02896> for people than <0518> <03588> to be happy <08055> and to enjoy <02896> <06213> themselves as long as <02416> they live <02416> ,
HEBREW	wyyxb <02416> bwj <02896> twvelw <06213> xwmvl <08055> Ma <0518> yk <03588> Mb <0> bwj <02896> Nya <0369> yk <03588> ytedy (3:12) <03045>

NETBible

I have concluded¹ that there is nothing better for people² than³ to be happy and to enjoy themselves⁴ as long as they live,

NET Notes

¹tn Heb “I know.”

²tn Heb “for them”; the referent (people, i.e., mankind) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

³tn Qoheleth uses the exceptive particle אִם…כִּי (ki…’im, “except”) to identify the only exception to the futility within man’s life (BDB 474 s.v. כִּי 2).

⁴tn Heb “to do good.” The phrase לַעֲשׂוֹת טוֹב (la’asot tov) functions idiomatically for “to experience [or see] happiness [or joy].” The verb עָשַׂה (’asah) probably denotes “to acquire; to obtain” (BDB 795 s.v. עָשַׂה II.7), and טוֹב (tov) means “good; pleasure; happiness,” e.g., Eccl 2:24; 3:13; 5:17 (BDB 375 s.v. טוֹב 1).