Ecclesiastes 3:22 (DBY)

Passage

And I have seen that there is nothing better than that man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion; for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

Nearby Context

Ecclesiastes 3:20 All go unto one place: all are of the dust, and all return to dust.

Ecclesiastes 3:21 Who knoweth the spirit of the children of men? Doth it go upwards? and the spirit of the beasts, doth it go downwards to the earth?

Ecclesiastes 3:22 And I have seen that there is nothing better than that man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion; for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "seen", "nothing", "better", "than", "should", "rejoice", "works", and "portion". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "seen" and "nothing", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The prior verse says "Who knoweth the spirit of the children...", giving immediate footing for "seen" and "nothing". In Ecclesiastes context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "seen" and "nothing" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.