Ecclesiastes 3:12

New International Reader's Version

People should be happy and do good while they live. I know there’s nothing better for them to do than that.

Cross References

Psalm 37:3

Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live in the land and enjoy its food.

Ecclesiastes 11:9

You young people, be happy while you are still young. Let your heart be joyful while you are still strong. Do what your heart tells you to do. Go after what your eyes look at. But I want you to know that God will judge you for everything you do.

Ecclesiastes 2:24

A person can’t do anything better than eat, drink and be satisfied with their work. I’m finally seeing that those things also come from the hand of God.

Ecclesiastes 2:3

I tried cheering myself up by drinking wine. I even tried living in a foolish way. But wisdom was still guiding my mind. I wanted to see what was good for people to do on earth during their short lives.

Ecclesiastes 3:22

So a person should enjoy their work. That’s what God made them for. I saw that there’s nothing better for them to do than that. After all, who can show them what will happen after they are gone?

Ecclesiastes 8:15

So I advise everyone to enjoy life. A person on this earth can’t do anything better than eat and drink and be glad. Then they will enjoy their work. They’ll be happy all the days of the life God has given them on earth.

Isaiah 64:5

You come to help those who enjoy doing what is right. You help those who thank you for teaching them how to live. But when we continued to disobey you, you became angry with us. So how can we be saved?

Luke 11:41

Give freely to poor people to show what is inside you. Then everything will be clean for you.

Acts 20:35

In everything I did, I showed you that we must work hard and help the weak. We must remember the words of the Lord Jesus. He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Deuteronomy 12:18

Instead, you must eat all those things in the sight of the Lord your God. Do it at the place he will choose. You, your children, your male and female servants and the Levites from your towns can eat them. Be filled with joy in the sight of the Lord your God. Be joyful in everything you do.

Deuteronomy 12:7

You and your families will eat at the place the Lord your God will choose. He will be with you there. You will find joy in everything you have done. That’s because he has blessed you.

Deuteronomy 26:11

Then you and the Levites and the outsiders among you will be full of joy. You will enjoy all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your family.

Deuteronomy 28:63

It pleased the Lord to give you success and to cause there to be many of you. But it will please him just as much to wipe you out and destroy you. You will be removed from the land you are entering to take as your own.

1 Timothy 6:18

Command the rich to do what is good. Tell them to be rich in doing good things. They must give freely. They must be willing to share.