So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. SO I RETURNED - namely, to the thought set forth in ; . ON T... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. WHEREFORE I PRAISED THE DEAD WHICH ARE ALREADY DEAD, MORE THAN THE LIVING. A profane sentiment if severed from its connection; but just in its bearing on Solomon's scope. If religion were not taken into... [ Continue Reading ]
Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. WHO HATH NOT SEEN - nor experienced.... [ Continue Reading ]
Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit. EVERY RIGHT WORK ... FOR THIS A MAN IS ENVIED - rather (as note, , "equity," prosperity), prosperous. Prosperity, which men so much covet, is the ver... [ Continue Reading ]
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. Still the indolence which 'folds the fool's hands together' is to be reprobated, because such a one ruins himself - "eateth his own flesh" (; ).... [ Continue Reading ]
Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit. BETTER (IS) AN HANDFUL (WITH) QUIETNESS, THAN BOTH THE HANDS FULL (WITH) TRAVAIL. Hebrew, 'one open hand (palm) full of quietness, than both closed hands (fists) full of (what seems wealth, but which... [ Continue Reading ]
Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. I SAW VANITY - a vanity, described in .... [ Continue Reading ]
There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. THERE IS ON... [ Continue Reading ]
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. TWO (ARE) BETTER THAN ONE. Two-opposed to "one" (). Ties of union, marriage, friendship, religious communion, are better than the selfish solitariness of the miser (). BECAUSE THEY HAVE A GOOD REWARD - advantage accrues... [ Continue Reading ]
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. IF THEY FALL - if the one or other fall, as may happen to both-namely, into any distress of body, mind, or soul.... [ Continue Reading ]
Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? IF TWO LIE TOGETHER ... THEY HAVE HEAT - (.) The image is taken from man and wife, but applies universally to the warm sympathy derived from social ties. So Christian ties (; ). Advantages accrue from fellowship whic... [ Continue Reading ]
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. IF ONE PREVAIL AGAINST HIM. One = the enemy. Rather, join "one" with "him." 'If (an enemy) prevail against him, the one'-him in his isolation-because of his standing alone. So the Vulgate. But th... [ Continue Reading ]
Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. BETTER (IN RESPECT TO CONDITION; NOT MORAL CHARACTER) (IS) A POOR AND A WISE CHILD THAT AN OLD AND FOOLISH KING. The "threefold cord" of social ties suggests the subject of civil government. In this ca... [ Continue Reading ]
For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. FOR OUT OF PRISON HE (THE POOR AND WISE CHILD) COMETH TO REIGN. Solomon uses this phrase of a supposed case-e.g., Joseph raised from a dungeon to be lord of Egypt. His words are at the same time so f... [ Continue Reading ]
I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. I CONSIDERED ALL THE LIVING - all the present generation of subjects. WITH THE SECOND CHILD THAT SHALL STAND UP IN HIS STEAD - in relation to ("with") the "second youth" (the legitimate... [ Continue Reading ]
There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit. (THERE IS) NO END OF ALL THE PEOPLE, (EVEN) OF ALL THAT HAVE BEEN BEFORE THEM: THEY ALSO THAT COME AFTER SHALL NOT REJO... [ Continue Reading ]