# Is “Eat, drink and be merry” in the Bible?

> Yes. “Eat, drink and be merry” is in the Bible, at Luke 12:19.

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/eat-drink-and-be-merry
By Andrew Kittridge · November 9, 2026

A rich man says it to himself in a story Jesus tells.

## The verse

> And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have plenty of good things stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’
>
> — [Luke 12:19](https://www.lumin.faith/read/luke/12#19) (Lumin Translation)

These exact words are in the King James Bible. The Lumin Translation, a modern English Bible, is quoted here, and it words the verse differently.

## What it means there

In the story it is a fool’s plan: he dies that night (Luke 12:20). Ecclesiastes 8:15 says something close in a better light, as enjoying the food and work God gives. “For tomorrow we die” comes from Isaiah 22:13.

## Also in the Bible

> So I commended joy, for there is nothing better for people under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad; this will go with them in their toil through the days of life that God has given them under the sun.
>
> — [Ecclesiastes 8:15](https://www.lumin.faith/read/ecclesiastes/8#15) (Lumin Translation)

> But look—joy and celebration, killing cattle and slaughtering sheep, eating meat and drinking wine! “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
>
> — [Isaiah 22:13](https://www.lumin.faith/read/isaiah/22#13) (Lumin Translation)

> If, humanly speaking, I fought wild beasts at Ephesus, what did I gain by it? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”
>
> — [1 Corinthians 15:32](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-corinthians/15#32) (Lumin Translation)

## Common questions

### Is “Eat, drink and be merry” in the Bible?

Yes. “Eat, drink and be merry” is in the Bible, at Luke 12:19. These exact words are in the King James Bible. The Lumin Translation, a modern English Bible, is quoted here, and it words the verse differently. A rich man says it to himself in a story Jesus tells.

### Where in the Bible is “Eat, drink and be merry”?

In Luke 12:19, and also Ecclesiastes 8:15, Isaiah 22:13 and 1 Corinthians 15:32. In the Lumin Translation, Luke 12:19 reads: “And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have plenty of good things stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’”

### Who said “Eat, drink and be merry”?

A rich man says it to himself in a story Jesus tells.

### What does “Eat, drink and be merry” mean in the Bible?

In the story it is a fool’s plan: he dies that night (Luke 12:20). Ecclesiastes 8:15 says something close in a better light, as enjoying the food and work God gives. “For tomorrow we die” comes from Isaiah 22:13.

## More

- [Is “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/father-forgive-them.md)
- [Is “Go the extra mile” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/go-the-extra-mile.md)
- [Is “Iron sharpens iron” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/iron-sharpens-iron.md)
- [Is “A law unto themselves” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/a-law-unto-themselves.md)
- [Is “Love is patient, love is kind” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/love-is-patient-love-is-kind.md)
- [Is “My cup runneth over” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/my-cup-runneth-over.md)
- [Is “The powers that be” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/the-powers-that-be.md)
- [Is “Set your house in order” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/set-your-house-in-order.md)
- [Check any word or a whole song](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-verse-checker)