Reference: Ecclesiastes
American
The preacher, the name of a book of the Old Testament, usually ascribed to Solomon. Compare 1Ki 3:12 and Ec 1:16; 1Ki 10:21,27 and Ec 2:4-9; 1Ki 11:3-4 and 25/type/bbe'>Ex 7:25,25. It appears to have been written by Solomon in his old age, when freed from the entanglements of idolatry, luxury, and lust, B. C. 977. It is a discourse upon the true wisdom; with many isolated precepts, illustrated from his own unexampled experience and from the most sagacious observation of the course of life; the whole demonstrating the vanity of all earthly good, and showing that there is a better life to come, and that the only true wisdom is to "fear God and keep his commandments." This, he says, is the conclusion of the whole matter, Ec 12:13. In reading this book, care should be taken not to deduce opinions from detached sentiments, but from the general scope and combined force of the whole.
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I have done as you said: I have given you a wise and far-seeing heart, so that there has never been your equal in the past, and never will there be any like you in the future.
I said to my heart, See, I have become great and am increased in wisdom more than any who were before me in Jerusalem--yes, my heart has seen much wisdom and knowledge.
I undertook great works, building myself houses and planting vine-gardens. I made myself gardens and fruit gardens, planting in them fruit-trees of all sorts. read more. I made pools to give water for the woods with their young trees. I got men-servants and women-servants, and they gave birth to sons and daughters in my house. I had great wealth of herds and flocks, more than all who were in Jerusalem before me. I got together silver and gold and the wealth of kings and of countries. I got makers of song, male and female; and the delights of the sons of men--girls of all sorts to be my brides. And I became great; increasing more than all who had been before me in Jerusalem, and my wisdom was still with me.
This is the last word. All has been said. Have fear of God and keep his laws; because this is right for every man.
Easton
the Greek rendering of the Hebrew Koheleth, which means "Preacher." The old and traditional view of the authorship of this book attributes it to Solomon. This view can be satisfactorily maintained, though others date it from the Captivity. The writer represents himself implicitly as Solomon (Ec 1:12). It has been appropriately styled The Confession of King Solomon. "The writer is a man who has sinned in giving way to selfishness and sensuality, who has paid the penalty of that sin in satiety and weariness of life, but who has through all this been under the discipline of a divine education, and has learned from it the lesson which God meant to teach him." "The writer concludes by pointing out that the secret of a true life is that a man should consecrate the vigour of his youth to God." The key-note of the book is sounded in Ec 1:2,
Vanity of vanities! saith the Preacher, Vanity of vanities! all is vanity!
i.e., all man's efforts to find happiness apart from God are without result.
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Hastings
ECCLESIASTES
1. Title and Canonicity.
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One generation goes and another comes; but the earth is for ever. The sun comes up and the sun goes down, and goes quickly back to the place where he came up. read more. The wind goes to the south, turning back again to the north; circling round for ever. All the rivers go down to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the rivers go, there they go again. All things are full of weariness; man may not give their story: the eye has never enough of its seeing, or the ear of its hearing. That which has been, is that which is to be, and that which has been done, is that which will be done, and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there anything of which men say, See, this is new? It has been in the old time which was before us. There is no memory of those who have gone before, and of those who come after there will be no memory for those who are still to come after them. I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
That which is bent may not be made straight, and that which is not there may not be numbered.
I said in my heart, I will give you joy for a test; so take your pleasure--but it was to no purpose. Of laughing I said, It is foolish; and of joy--What use is it? read more. I made a search with my heart to give pleasure to my flesh with wine, still guiding my heart with wisdom, and to go after foolish things, so that I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under the heavens all the days of their life. I undertook great works, building myself houses and planting vine-gardens.
I undertook great works, building myself houses and planting vine-gardens. I made myself gardens and fruit gardens, planting in them fruit-trees of all sorts.
I made myself gardens and fruit gardens, planting in them fruit-trees of all sorts. I made pools to give water for the woods with their young trees.
I made pools to give water for the woods with their young trees. I got men-servants and women-servants, and they gave birth to sons and daughters in my house. I had great wealth of herds and flocks, more than all who were in Jerusalem before me.
I got men-servants and women-servants, and they gave birth to sons and daughters in my house. I had great wealth of herds and flocks, more than all who were in Jerusalem before me. I got together silver and gold and the wealth of kings and of countries. I got makers of song, male and female; and the delights of the sons of men--girls of all sorts to be my brides.
I got together silver and gold and the wealth of kings and of countries. I got makers of song, male and female; and the delights of the sons of men--girls of all sorts to be my brides. And I became great; increasing more than all who had been before me in Jerusalem, and my wisdom was still with me.
And I became great; increasing more than all who had been before me in Jerusalem, and my wisdom was still with me. And nothing which was desired by my eyes did I keep from them; I did not keep any joy from my heart, because my heart took pleasure in all my work, and this was my reward. read more. Then I saw all the works which my hands had made, and everything I had been working to do; and I saw that all was to no purpose and desire for wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
Then I saw all the works which my hands had made, and everything I had been working to do; and I saw that all was to no purpose and desire for wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
Then I saw all the works which my hands had made, and everything I had been working to do; and I saw that all was to no purpose and desire for wind, and there was no profit under the sun. And I went again in search of wisdom and of foolish ways. What may the man do who comes after the king? The thing which he has done before.
There is nothing better for a man than taking meat and drink, and having delight in his work. This again I saw was from the hand of God.
To the man with whom he is pleased, God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the work of getting goods together and storing up wealth, to give to him in whom God has pleasure. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind.
For everything there is a fixed time, and a time for every business under the sun. A time for birth and a time for death; a time for planting and a time for uprooting; read more. A time to put to death and a time to make well; a time for pulling down and a time for building up; A time for weeping and a time for laughing; a time for sorrow and a time for dancing; A time to take stones away and a time to get stones together; a time for kissing and a time to keep from kissing; A time for search and a time for loss; a time to keep and a time to give away; A time for undoing and a time for stitching; a time for keeping quiet and a time for talk; A time for love and a time for hate; a time for war and a time for peace. What profit has the worker in the work which he does?
He has made everything right in its time; but he has made their hearts without knowledge, so that man is unable to see the works of God, from the first to the last. I am certain that there is nothing better for a man than to be glad, and to do good while life is in him.
I am certain that whatever God does will be for ever. No addition may be made to it, nothing may be taken from it; and God has done it so that man may be in fear before him.
I am certain that whatever God does will be for ever. No addition may be made to it, nothing may be taken from it; and God has done it so that man may be in fear before him. Whatever is has been before, and what is to be is now; because God makes search for the things which are past. read more. And again, I saw under the sun, in the place of the judges, that evil was there; and in the place of righteousness, that evil was there. I said in my heart, God will be judge of the good and of the bad; because a time for every purpose and for every work has been fixed by him. I said in my heart, It is because of the sons of men, so that God may put them to the test and that they may see themselves as beasts.
So I saw that there is nothing better than for a man to have joy in his work--because that is his reward. Who will make him see what will come after him?
And again I saw all the cruel things which are done under the sun; there was the weeping of those who have evil done to them, and they had no comforter: and from the hands of the evil-doers there went out power, but they had no comforter.
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their work. And if one has a fall, the other will give him a hand; but unhappy is the man who is by himself, because he has no helper. read more. So again, if two are sleeping together they are warm, but how may one be warm by himself? And two attacked by one would be safe, and three cords twisted together are not quickly broken. A young man who is poor and wise is better than a king who is old and foolish and will not be guided by the wisdom of others. Because out of a prison the young man comes to be king, though by birth he was only a poor man in the kingdom. I saw all the living under the sun round the young man who was to be ruler in place of the king. There was no end of all the people, of all those whose head he was, but they who come later will have no delight in him. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind.
Put your feet down with care when you go to the house of God, for it is better to give ear than to make the burned offerings of the foolish, whose knowledge is only of doing evil.
Put your feet down with care when you go to the house of God, for it is better to give ear than to make the burned offerings of the foolish, whose knowledge is only of doing evil. Be not unwise with your mouth, and let not your heart be quick to say anything before God, because God is in heaven and you are on the earth--so let not the number of your words be great.
Be not unwise with your mouth, and let not your heart be quick to say anything before God, because God is in heaven and you are on the earth--so let not the number of your words be great. As a dream comes from much business, so the voice of a foolish man comes with words in great number.
As a dream comes from much business, so the voice of a foolish man comes with words in great number. When you take an oath before God, put it quickly into effect, because he has no pleasure in the foolish; keep the oath you have taken.
When you take an oath before God, put it quickly into effect, because he has no pleasure in the foolish; keep the oath you have taken. It is better not to take an oath than to take an oath and not keep it.
It is better not to take an oath than to take an oath and not keep it. Let not your mouth make your flesh do evil. And say not before the angel, It was an error. So that God may not be angry with your words and put an end to the work of your hands.
Let not your mouth make your flesh do evil. And say not before the angel, It was an error. So that God may not be angry with your words and put an end to the work of your hands. Because much talk comes from dreams and things of no purpose. But let the fear of God be in you.
Because much talk comes from dreams and things of no purpose. But let the fear of God be in you.
Because much talk comes from dreams and things of no purpose. But let the fear of God be in you.
All his days are in the dark, and he has much sorrow, pain, disease, and trouble. This is what I have seen: it is good and fair for a man to take meat and drink and to have joy in all his work under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; that is his reward. read more. Every man to whom God has given money and wealth and the power to have pleasure in it and to do his part and have joy in his work: this is given by God.
Every man to whom God has given money and wealth and the power to have pleasure in it and to do his part and have joy in his work: this is given by God.
All the work of man is for his mouth, and still he has a desire for food.
What the eyes see is better than the wandering of desire. This is to no purpose and a desire for wind. That which is, has been named before, and of what man is there is knowledge. He has no power against one stronger than he.
Who is able to say what is good for man in life all the days of his foolish life which he goes through like a shade? who will say what is to be after him under the sun?
A good name is better than oil of great price, and the day of death than the day of birth.
The hearts of the wise are in the house of weeping; but the hearts of the foolish are in the house of joy. It is better to take note of the protest of the wise, than for a man to give ear to the song of the foolish. read more. Like the cracking of thorns under a pot, so is the laugh of a foolish man; and this again is to no purpose. The wise are troubled by the ways of the cruel, and the giving of money is the destruction of the heart. The end of a thing is better than its start, and a gentle spirit is better than pride. Be not quick to let your spirit be angry; because wrath is in the heart of the foolish. Say not, Why were the days which have gone by better than these? Such a question comes not from wisdom. Wisdom together with a heritage is good, and a profit to those who see the sun. Wisdom keeps a man from danger even as money does; but the value of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to its owner. Give thought to the work of God. Who will make straight what he has made bent? In the day of wealth have joy, but in the day of evil take thought: God has put the one against the other, so that man may not be certain what will be after him.
It is good to take this in your hand and not to keep your hand from that; he who has the fear of God will be free of the two. Wisdom makes a wise man stronger than ten rulers in a town.
And I saw a thing more bitter than death, even the woman whose heart is full of tricks and nets, and whose hands are as bands. He with whom God is pleased will get free from her, but the sinner will be taken by her.
And I saw a thing more bitter than death, even the woman whose heart is full of tricks and nets, and whose hands are as bands. He with whom God is pleased will get free from her, but the sinner will be taken by her. Look! this I have seen, said the Preacher, taking one thing after another to get the true account, read more. For which my soul is still searching, but I have it not; one man among a thousand have I seen; but a woman among all these I have not seen. This only have I seen, that God made men upright, but they have been searching out all sorts of inventions.
Who is like the wise man? and to whom is the sense of anything clear? A man's wisdom makes his face shining, and his hard face will be changed. I say to you, Keep the king's law, from respect for the oath of God.
I say to you, Keep the king's law, from respect for the oath of God. Be not quick to go from before him. Be not fixed in an evil design, because he does whatever is pleasing to him. read more. The word of a king has authority; and who may say to him, What is this you are doing? Whoever keeps the law will come to no evil: and a wise man's heart has knowledge of time and of decision. For every purpose there is a time and a decision, because the sorrow of man is great in him.
And then I saw evil men put to rest, taken even from the holy place; and they went about and were praised in the town because of what they had done. This again is to no purpose.
And then I saw evil men put to rest, taken even from the holy place; and they went about and were praised in the town because of what they had done. This again is to no purpose. Because punishment for an evil work comes not quickly, the minds of the sons of men are fully given to doing evil. read more. Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and his life is long, I am certain that it will be well for those who go in fear of God and are in fear before him. But it will not be well for the evil-doer; he will not make his days long like a shade, because he has no fear before God.
So I gave praise to joy, because there is nothing better for a man to do under the sun than to take meat and drink and be happy; for that will be with him in his work all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun.
Then I saw all the work of God, and that man may not get knowledge of the work which is done under the sun; because, if a man gives hard work to the search he will not get knowledge, and even if the wise man seems to be coming to the end of his search, still he will be without knowledge.
Come, take your bread with joy, and your wine with a glad heart. God has taken pleasure in your works. Let your clothing be white at all times, and let not your head be without oil. read more. Have joy with the woman of your love all the days of your foolish life which he gives you under the sun. Because that is your part in life and in your work which you do under the sun. Whatever comes to your hand to do with all your power, do it because there is no work, or thought, or knowledge, or wisdom in the place of the dead to which you are going.
This again I have seen under the sun as wisdom and it seemed great to me. There was a little town and the number of its men was small, and there came a great king against it and made an attack on it, building works of war round about it. read more. Now there was in the town a poor, wise man, and he, by his wisdom, kept the town safe. But no one had any memory of that same poor man.
The words of the wise which come quietly to the ear are noted more than the cry of a ruler among the foolish.
Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer give out an evil smell; more valued is a little wisdom than the great glory of the foolish. The heart of the wise man goes in the right direction; but the heart of a foolish man in the wrong. read more. And when the foolish man is walking in the way, he has no sense and lets everyone see that he is foolish. If the wrath of the ruler is against you, keep in your place; in him who keeps quiet even great sins may be overlooked. There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which comes by chance from a ruler: The foolish are placed in high positions, but men of wealth are kept low. I have seen servants on horses, and rulers walking on the earth as servants. He who makes a hole for others will himself go into it, and for him who makes a hole through a wall the bite of a snake will be a punishment. He who gets out stones from the earth will be damaged by them, and in the cutting of wood there is danger. If the iron has no edge, and he does not make it sharp, then he has to put out more strength; but wisdom makes things go well. If a snake gives a bite before the word of power is said, then there is no longer any use in the word of power. The words of a wise man's mouth are sweet to all, but the lips of a foolish man are his destruction. The first words of his mouth are foolish, and the end of his talk is evil crime. The foolish are full of words; man has no knowledge of what will be; and who is able to say what will be after him? The work of the foolish will be a weariness to him, because he has no knowledge of the way to the town. Unhappy is the land whose king is a boy, and whose rulers are feasting in the morning.
When no work is done the roof goes in, and when the hands do nothing water comes into the house.
Say not a curse against the king, even in your thoughts; and even secretly say not a curse against the man of wealth; because a bird of the air will take the voice, and that which has wings will give news of it.
As you have no knowledge of the way of the wind, or of the growth of the bones in the body of her who is with child, even so you have no knowledge of the works of God who has made all.
Have joy, O young man, while you are young; and let your heart be glad in the days of your strength, and go in the ways of your heart, and in the desire of your eyes; but be certain that for all these things God will be your judge.
Let your mind be turned to your Maker in the days of your strength, while the evil days come not, and the years are far away when you will say, I have no pleasure in them;
Let your mind be turned to your Maker in the days of your strength, while the evil days come not, and the years are far away when you will say, I have no pleasure in them; While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, are not dark, and the clouds come not back after the rain; read more. In the day when the keepers of the house are shaking for fear, and the strong men are bent down, and the women who were crushing the grain are at rest because their number is small, and those looking out of the windows are unable to see; When the doors are shut in the street, and the sound of the crushing is low, and the voice of the bird is soft, and the daughters of music will be made low; And he is in fear of that which is high, and danger is in the road, and the tree is white with flower, and the least thing is a weight, and desire is at an end, because man goes to his last resting-place, and those who are sorrowing are in the streets; Before ever the silver cord is cut, or the vessel of gold is broken, or the pot is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the water-hole; And the dust goes back to the earth as it was, and the spirit goes back to God who gave it.
The words of the wise are pointed, and sayings grouped together are like nails fixed with a hammer; they are given by one guide.
The words of the wise are pointed, and sayings grouped together are like nails fixed with a hammer; they are given by one guide. And further, my son, take note of this: of the making of books there is no end, and much learning is a weariness to the flesh. read more. This is the last word. All has been said. Have fear of God and keep his laws; because this is right for every man.
This is the last word. All has been said. Have fear of God and keep his laws; because this is right for every man. God will be judge of every work, with every secret thing, good or evil.
Where is the wise? where is he who has knowledge of the law? where is the man of this world who has a love of discussion? has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
Smith
Ecclesias'tes
(the preacher). The title of this book is in Hebrew Koheleth, signifying one who speaks publicly in an assembly. Koheleth is the name by which Solomon, probably the author, speaks of himself throughout the book. The book is that which it professes to be, --the confession of a man of wide experience looking back upon his past life and looking out upon the disorders and calamities which surround him. The writer is a man who has sinned in giving way to selfishness and sensuality, who has paid the penalty of that sin in satiety and weariness of life, but who has through all this been under the discipline of a divine education, and has learned from it the lesson which God meant to teach him.
Watsons
ECCLESIASTES, a canonical book of the Old Testament, of which Solomon was the author, as appears from the first sentence. The design of this book is to show the vanity of all sublunary things; and from a review of the whole, the author draws this pertinent conclusion, "Fear God, and keep his commandments, for this is the whole of man;"