John Gill Commentary Ecclesiastes 5:19

"Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor-this is the gift of God." — Ecclesiastes 5:19 (ASV)

Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth
Which include the whole of a man's substance; all his estate, personal and real; and all his goods and possessions, movable and immovable, as gold, silver, cattle, fields, and farms;

which are all the gift of God, by whatsoever means they may be acquired or possessed;

and has given him power ^F18 ,
or, "caused him to have dominion" , over his wealth and riches, and not be a slave to them, as many are: but to have so much command of them and of himself, as

to eat thereof
comfortably enjoy them; and dispose of them to his own good, the good of others, and the glory of God. It follows,

and to take his portion
which God has allotted him; to take it thankfully, and use it freely and comfortably;

and to rejoice in his labour
in the things he has been labouring for, in a cheerful use of them; blessing God for them, and taking the comfort of them;

this [is] the gift of God ^F19 ;
to have such power over his substance, and not be a slave to it, and to enjoy the fruits of his labour, in a cheerful and comfortable manner; this is as much the gift of God as riches themselves .

---

FOOTNOTES:

• F18: (wjylvh) "eumque dominari eum fecerit", Tigurine version; "imperare fecit eum", Gejerus; "dominari eum fecerit", Rambachius.
• F19: "Di tibi divitias dederunt, artemque fruendi", Horat. Ep. l. 1. Ep. 4. v. 7.