I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. I SAID IN MINE HEART. "I" (Heb., ani) is emphatic: I who had such ample opportunities of testing earthly goods, and who am now giving the results of my experience. The addre... [ Continue Reading ]
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? LAUGHTER - flowing from sensual gratifications. (IT IS) (rather, Thou art). Hengstenberg translates (limshok besari), 'to cherish.' MAD - i:e., when made the chief good. It is harmless in its proper place; yea, the Preacher urges us... [ Continue Reading ]
I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. Illustration more at large of Ecclesiastes 2:1. First, he t... [ Continue Reading ]
And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done. I TURNED MYSELF TO BEHOLD (the same Hebrew, uwpaaniytiy (H6437), as in Ecclesiastes 2:11, "I looked" on). I TURNED MYSELF TO BEHOLD (the same... [ Continue Reading ]
Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. WISDOM EXCELLETH FOLLY ... AS LIGHT EXCELLETH DARKNESS ... THE FOOL WALKETH IN DARKNESS - (.) The worldly "wise" man has good sense in managing his affairs, skill and taste in building and planting, and keeps within safe... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity. WHY WAS I THEN - so anxious to become - "more wise" - (.) THEN - since such the case - THIS ALSO VANITY. "This" - namely, pursuit o... [ Continue Reading ]
For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool. (THERE IS) NO REMEMBRANCE OF THE WISE MORE THAN OF THE FOOL - a great aim of the worldly (Genesis 11:4). The right... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. THEREFORE I HATED LIFE. Disappointed in one experiment after another he is weary of life. The backslider ought to have rather reasoned as the prodigal (Hosea 2:6;... [ Continue Reading ]
Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. I HATED ALL MY LABOUR ... BECAUSE I SHOULD LEAVE IT UNTO THE MAN THAT SHALL BE AFTER ME. AND WHO KNOWETH WHETHER HE SHALL BE A WISE (MAN) OR A FOOL? One hope alone was left t... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun. I WENT ABOUT (I TURNED MYSELF) TO CAUSE MY HEART TO DESPAIR OF ALL THE LABOUR - I gave up as desperate all hope of solid fruit from my labour.... [ Continue Reading ]
For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil. FOR THERE IS A MAN WHOSE LABOUR IS IN WISDOM - suppose "there is a man," etc. AND IN EQUITY - rath... [ Continue Reading ]
_FOR WHAT HATH MAN OF ALL HIS LABOUR, AND OF THE VEXATION OF HIS HEART, WHEREIN HE HATH LABOURED UNDER THE SUN?_ No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity. ALL HIS DAYS ARE SORROWS AND HIS TRAVAIL GRIEF. Same sentiment as , interrogatively. The only fruit he has is, not only sorrows in his days, but "all his days are sorrow and his... [ Continue Reading ]
There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. (THERE IS) NOTHING BETTER FOR A MAN, (THAN) THAT HE SHOULD EAT. The Hebrew literally is 'It is not good for man that... [ Continue Reading ]
For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I? WHO CAN EAT, OR WHO ELSE CAN HASTEN (HEREUNTO), MORE THAN I? - Hebrew, yaachuwsh (H2363) chuwts (H2351) mimeniy (H4480): Who can hasten more than I, and beyond me? The Syriac, Arabic, and Septuagint, read, 'without Him' - i:e., withou... [ Continue Reading ]
For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit. FOR (GOD) GIVETH TO A MAN THAT (IS) GOOD IN HIS SIGHT WISDO... [ Continue Reading ]