CHAPTER VII _The value of a good name_, 1. _Advantages of sorrow and correction_, 2-5. _The emptiness of a fool's joy_, 6. _Of oppression_, 7. _The end better than the beginning_, 8. _Against hastiness of spirit_, 9. _Comparison of former and present times_, 10. _Excellence of wisdom_, 11, 1... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 7:2. It is _BETTER TO GO TO THE HOUSE OF MOURNING_] _Birthdays_ were generally kept with great festivity, and to these the wise man most probably refers; but according to his maxim, the miseries of life were so many and so oppressive that the day of a man's _death_ was to be prefe... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 7:3. _SORROW_ IS _BETTER THAN LAUGHTER_] The reason is immediately given; for _by the sorrow of the countenance - the grief_ of heart that shows itself in the countenance - _THE HEART IS MADE BETTER._] In such cases, most men try themselves at the tribunal of their own conscience... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 7:4. _THE HEART OF THE WISE_ IS _IN THE HOUSE OF MOURNING_] A wise man loves those occasions from which he can derive spiritual advantage; and therefore prefers _visiting the sick_, and _sympathizing_ with those who have _suffered privations_ by death. But the _fool_ - the gay, th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 7:6. _FOR AS THE CRACKLING OF THORNS_] They make a great noise, a great blaze; and are extinguished in a few moments. Such indeed, comparatively, are the joys of life; they are noisy, flashy, and transitory.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 7:7. _OPPRESSION MAKETH A WISE MAN MAD_] This has been translated with good show of reason, "Surely oppression shall give lustre to a wise man: but a gift corrupteth the heart." The chief difference here is in the word יהולל _yeholel_, which, from the root הלל _halal_, signifies... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 7:8. _BETTER_ IS _THE END_] We can then judge of the whole, and especially if the matter relate to the conduct of Divine Providence. At the beginning we are often apt to make very rash conjectures, and often suppose that such and such things are against us; and that every thing is... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 7:9. _ANGER RESTETH IN THE BOSOM OF FOOLS._] A wise man, off his guard, may feel it for a moment: but in him it cannot _rest_: it is a _fire_ which he immediately casts out of his breast. But the _fool_ - the man who is under the dominion of his own tempers, harbours and fosters i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 7:10. _THE FORMER DAYS WERE BETTER THAN THESE?_] This is a _common saying_; and it is as _foolish_ as it is common. There is no weight nor truth in it; but men use it to excuse their crimes, and the folly of their conduct. "In former times, say they, men might be more religious, u... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 7:11. _WISDOM_ IS _GOOD WITH AN INHERITANCE_] In this chapter Solomon introduces many observations which appear to be made by objectors against his doctrine; and as he was satisfied of their futility, he proposes them in their own full strength, and then combats and destroys them... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 7:12. _WISDOM_ IS _A DEFENCE_] To whom Solomon answers: All true _wisdom_ is most undoubtedly a great advantage to men in all circumstances; and _money_ is also of great use: but it cannot be compared to wisdom. _Knowledge_ of Divine and human things is a great blessing. _Money_ i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _CONSIDER THE WORK OF GOD_] Such is the nature of his providence, that it puts money into the hands of few: but wisdom is within the reach of all. The first is not necessary to happiness; therefore, it is not offered to men; the latter is; and therefore God, in his goodness, offers it to t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _IN THE DAY OF PROSPERITY BE JOYFUL_] When ye receive these temporal gifts from God, enjoy them, and be thankful to the Giver: but remember, this sunshine will not _always_ last. God has balanced _prosperity_ and _adversity_ against each other; and were it not so, how many would put the fo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _THERE IS A JUST_ MAN _THAT PERISHETH_] This is another objection as if he had said, "l also have had considerable experience; and I have not discovered any marked approbation of the conduct of the righteous, or disapprobation of that of the wicked. On the contrary, I have seen a righteous... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _WHY SHOULDEST THOU DESTROY THYSELF?_] תשומם _tishshomem_, make thyself _desolate_, so that thou shalt be obliged to stand _alone_; neither make thyself over-wise, תתחכם _tithchaccam_, do not pretend to abundance of wisdom. Why shouldest thou be so singular? In other words, and in modern l... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _BE NOT OVERMUCH WICKED, NEITHER BE THOU FOOLISH: WHY_ _SHOULDEST THOU DIE BEFORE THY TIME?_] אל תרשע הרבה _al tirsha_ _harbeh_. Do not multiply wickedness, do not add direct opposition to godliness to the rest of your crimes. Why should you provoke God to destroy you before your time? Per... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. IT IS _GOOD THAT THOU SHOULDEST TAKE HOLD OR THIS_] Do not let such an observation slip: _take hold of this; do not forget_ _that_. Get what you can in an honest way; but do not forget to get true religion; for he that fears God will be saved from all evil.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _WISDOM STRENGTHENETH THE WISE_] One wise, thoroughly learned, and scientific man, may be of more use in fortifying and defending a city, than ten _princes_. Witness the case of _Syracuse_, when attacked by the Romans both by sea and land. _Archimedes_, by his engines, burnt and dashed the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. THERE IS _NOT A JUST MAN UPON EARTH, THAT DOETH GOOD,_ _AND SINNETH NOT._] לא יחטא _lo yechta_, that _may not sin_. There is not a man upon earth, however just he may be, and habituated to do good, but is _peccable_-liable to commit sin; and therefore should continually watch and pray, an... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 21. _ALSO TAKE NO HEED UNTO ALL WORDS THAT ARE SPOKEN_] This is good advice, and much for every man's peace through life. _THY SERVANT CURSE THEE_] מקללך _mekallelecha_, make light of thee, speak evil of thee.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 22. _THOU THYSELF - HAST CURSED OTHERS._] קללת _kalalta_, thou hast spoken evil; hast vilified others. O, who is free from evil speaking, from uncharitable speaking; from detailing their neighbour's faults, from whispering, talebearing, and backbiting? Do not wonder if God, in his justice, per... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 23. _ALL THIS HAVE I PROVED BY WISDOM_] These rules I have laid down for my own conduct, and sought after more wisdom; but have fallen far short of what I wished to be.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 24. _THAT WHICH IS FAR OFF_] Though the wisdom that is essential to our salvation may be soon learned, through the teaching of the Spirit of wisdom, yet in wisdom itself there are _extents_ and _depths_ which none can reach or fathom.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 25. _I APPLIED MINE HEART_] I cast about, סבותי _sabbothi_, I made a circuit; I circumscribed the ground I was to traverse; and all within my circle I was determined to _know_, and to _investigate_, and to _seek out wisdom_, and the _reason of things_. Has man _reason_ and _understanding_? If... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 26. _AND I FIND MORE BITTER THAN DEATH THE WOMAN_] After all his investigation of the _wickedness of folly_, and the _foolishness_ _of madness_, he found nothing equally dangerous and ruinous with the _blandishments of cunning women_. When once the affections are entangled, escape without ruin... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 27. COUNTING _ONE BY ONE_] I have gone over every particular. I have compared one thing with another; man with woman, his wisdom with her wiles; his strength with her blandishments; his influence with her ascendancy; his powers of reason with her arts and cunning; and in a _thousand_ men, I ha... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 7:29. _LO, THIS ONLY HAVE I FOUND, THAT GOD HATH MADE MAN_ _UPRIGHT_] Whatever evil may be now found among men and women, it is not of God; for God made them all upright. This is a singular verse, and has been most variously translated: עשה האלהים את האדם ישר והמה בקשו חשבנות רבים... [ Continue Reading ]