Ecclesiastes 3:12

I have concluded ¹  that there is nothing better for people ²  than ³  to be happy and to enjoy themselves ⁴  as long as they live,

I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.

I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime;

So I concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they can.

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.

I am certain that there is nothing better for a man than to be glad, and to do good while life is in him.

I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live;

I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives,

I have concluded ¹  that there is nothing better for people ²  than ³  to be happy and to enjoy themselves ⁴  as long as they live,

¹ tn Heb “I know.”

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

³ tn 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).

⁴ tn 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).