Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.
Than to eat, and to drink. There is no "better thing," as regards the things of this life, for the "just" man, whose chief good is religion, than that he should cheerfully enjoy the present gifts of God.
For that shall abide with him - "abide" - Hebrew, adhere; not for ever, but it is the only sure good to be enjoyed from earthly labours (equivalent to "of his labour the days of his life"). Still, the language resembles the sceptical precept (1 Corinthians 15:32), introduced only to be refuted. But the "mirth" commended is more probably that of the cheerful saint, who, instead of fretting himself about seeming anomalies (Ecclesiastes 8:14), and discontentedly complaining in self-righteousness, as if he were treated unjustly, makes the best of present mercies. This is the only abiding good from earthly toils (1 Timothy 6:6).