VICISSITUDES OF LIFE. 'OH, THE PITY OF IT!' 1-3. The mass of human suffering and the absence of pity are such that better off are the dead and still more the unborn. It is not only through God's ordinance, but by reason of man's perversity, that he is disturbed and perplexed by the social disturba... [ Continue Reading ]
RIGHT] RV 'skilful,' RM 'successful.' FOR THIS.. NEIGHBOUR] RM 'it cometh of a man's rivalry with his neighbour.' Effort is stimulated by competition, but then what man has gained by toil is marred by the hostility of the less fortunate. VEXATION OF SPIRIT] see on Ecclesiastes 1:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
Even the fool who idly runs through his substance is for the time better off, for he is at peace.... [ Continue Reading ]
TWO more ills of life are covetousness aria loneliness.... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS ONE _alone_] The avaricious has none to share his wealth or to succeed him; yet his toil is insatiable. 9-12. The advantages of companionship are shown by four illustrations, three of which are such as have special fitness in the mouth of an Oriental writer. Two companions in travel find t... [ Continue Reading ]
RV 'AND IF a man prevail against him that, is alone.'... [ Continue Reading ]
CHILD] RV 'youth.'... [ Continue Reading ]
A man may rise from the lowest to the highest station by wisdom; yet even so there is no permanence.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE COMETH] i.e. the poor and wise youth. WHEREAS ALSO.. POOR] RV 'yea, even in his kingdom he (the child) was born poor.' Thus in RV the subject of the whole v. is the youth, whereas in AV two persons are spoken of, viz. the prisoner who rises through wisdom to be a king, and the king who becomes a... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH THE SECOND, etc.] RV 'that they were with the youth, the second, that stood,' etc.... [ Continue Reading ]
_There is_] RV 'there was.' _Even_ OF.. THEM] RV 'even of all them over whom he was.' T he sketch is continued; there is an endless stream of those who crowd to pay court. THEY ALSO] RV 'yet they,' etc. Oblivion will soon wipe out all.... [ Continue Reading ]