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/emb'>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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lo! I have done according to thy word, - lo! I have given unto thee a wise and discerning heart, so that, like thee, hath been none, before thee, and, after thee, shall rise up none, like thee.
Spake, I, in my heart, saying, As for me, lo! I have become great, and have gathered wisdom, beyond any one who hath been before me over Jerusalem, - and, my heart, hath seen much wisdom and knowledge:
I enlarged my works, - I built me houses, I planted me vineyards; I made me gardens, and parks, - I planted in them trees of every kind of fruit; read more. I made me pools of water, - to irrigate therefrom the thick-set saplings growing up into trees: I acquired, men-servants and women-servants, and, the children of the household, were mine, - also possessions, herds and flocks in abundance, were mine, beyond all who had been before me in Jerusalem; I heaped me up, both silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings, and provinces, - I provided me singing-men and singing-women, and the delights of the sons of men, a wife and wives. So I became great, and increased, more than any one who had been before me in Jerusalem, - moreover, my wisdom, remained with me;
The conclusion of the matter - the whole, let us hear, - Towards God, be reverent, and, his commandments, observe, for, this, concerneth all mankind.
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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Generation, goeth and, generation, cometh, but, the earth, unto times age-abiding, remaineth. And the sun, breaketh forth, and the sun, goeth in, - yea, unto his own place, he panteth, from whence he brake forth. read more. Going unto the south, and circling unto the north, - circling, circling continually, is, the wind, and, over its own circuits, returneth the wind. All the streams, flow into the sea, yet, the sea, is not full, - unto the place whither the streams flow, thither, do they again flow. All words, are weak, unable is any man to tell, - not satisfied is the eye by seeing, nor filled is the ear with hearing. That which hath been, is the same that shall be, and, that which hath been done, is the same that shall be done, - and there is, nothing new, under the sun. Is there a thing, of which it can be said, See here, it is, new? Already, hath it been, for ages, it is something which was before us. There is, no remembrance, of the thing before, - nor, even of the things after, which shall be, will there be any remembrance, with them who shall come after. I, the Proclaimer, was king over Israel, in Jerusalem.
That which is crooked, cannot be straight, - and, that which is wanting, cannot be reckoned.
Said, I, in my heart, Come now! I will prove thee with gladness, and look thou on blessedness, - but lo! even that, was vanity. Of laughter, I said, Madness! and, of mirth, What can it do? read more. I sought out with my heart, to cherish with wine, my flesh, - but, my heart, was to guide with wisdom, even in laying hold of folly, until I should see which was blessedness for the sons of men, as to that which they could do, under the heavens, during the number of the days of their life. I enlarged my works, - I built me houses, I planted me vineyards;
I enlarged my works, - I built me houses, I planted me vineyards; I made me gardens, and parks, - I planted in them trees of every kind of fruit;
I made me gardens, and parks, - I planted in them trees of every kind of fruit; I made me pools of water, - to irrigate therefrom the thick-set saplings growing up into trees:
I made me pools of water, - to irrigate therefrom the thick-set saplings growing up into trees: I acquired, men-servants and women-servants, and, the children of the household, were mine, - also possessions, herds and flocks in abundance, were mine, beyond all who had been before me in Jerusalem;
I acquired, men-servants and women-servants, and, the children of the household, were mine, - also possessions, herds and flocks in abundance, were mine, beyond all who had been before me in Jerusalem; I heaped me up, both silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings, and provinces, - I provided me singing-men and singing-women, and the delights of the sons of men, a wife and wives.
I heaped me up, both silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings, and provinces, - I provided me singing-men and singing-women, and the delights of the sons of men, a wife and wives. So I became great, and increased, more than any one who had been before me in Jerusalem, - moreover, my wisdom, remained with me;
So I became great, and increased, more than any one who had been before me in Jerusalem, - moreover, my wisdom, remained with me; and, nothing that mine eyes asked, withheld I from them, - I did not keep back my heart from any gladness, for, my heart, obtained gladness out of all my toil, and so, this, was my portion, out of all my toil. read more. When, I, looked upon all my works, which my hands had made, and on my toil, whereon I had toilsomely wrought, then lo! all, was vanity, and feeding on wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
When, I, looked upon all my works, which my hands had made, and on my toil, whereon I had toilsomely wrought, then lo! all, was vanity, and feeding on wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
When, I, looked upon all my works, which my hands had made, and on my toil, whereon I had toilsomely wrought, then lo! all, was vanity, and feeding on wind, and there was no profit under the sun. Thus turned, I, to look at wisdom, and madness and folly, - for what can the man do more who cometh after the king? save that which, already, men have done.
There was nothing more blessed for Man than that he should eat and drink, and see his desireth for blessedness in his toil, - even this, saw, I myself, that, from the hand of God, it was.
For, to a man who is good before him, hath he given wisdom and knowledge and gladness, - whereas, to the sinner, he hath given employment, to gather and heap up, to give to one who is good before God, even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.
For, every thing, there is a season, - and a time for every pursuit, under the heavens: - A time to be born, and a time to die, - A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted; read more. A time to kill, and a time to heal, - A time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh, - A time to wail, and a time to dance for joy; A time to cast away stones, and a time to heap up stones, - A time to embrace, and a time to be far from loving embrace; A time to seek, and a time to give up as lost, - A time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew, - A time to be silent, and a time to speak; A time to love and a time to hate, - A time of war, and a time of peace. What profit hath he that worketh, in that wherein, himself, hath toiled?
Everything, hath he made beautiful in its own time, - also, intelligence, hath he put in their heart, without which men could not find out the work which God hath wrought, from the beginning even unto the end. I know that there is no blessedness in them, - save to be glad, and to do well with one's life.
I know, that, whatsoever God doeth, the same, shall be age-abiding, unto it, there is nothing to add, and, from it, there is nothing to take away, - and, God, hath done it, that men should stand in awe before him.
I know, that, whatsoever God doeth, the same, shall be age-abiding, unto it, there is nothing to add, and, from it, there is nothing to take away, - and, God, hath done it, that men should stand in awe before him. That which was, already, had been, and, that which shall be, already, shall have been, - but, God, seeketh that which hath been chased away. read more. Then, again, I saw under the sun, the place of justice, that there was lawlessness, and, the place of righteousness, that there was lawlessness. Said, I, in my heart, Both the righteous and the lawless, will God judge, - for there will be a time for every pursuit, and concerning every work - there. Said, I, in my heart, as concerning the sons of men, That God was minded to prove them, - and that they might see, that they were beasts, of themselves.
So I saw, that there was nothing better than that a man should be glad in his works, for, that, is his portion, - for who can bring him in, to look upon that which shall be after him?
Then again, I, considered all the oppressive deeds which were done under the sun, - and lo! the tears of the oppressed, and they have no comforter, and, on the side of their oppressing, is power, and they have no comforter.
Better are two, than one, - in that they have a good reward for their toil. For, if the one should fall, the other would raise up his companion, - but alas! for him who is alone when he falleth, with no second to raise him up! read more. Moreover, if two lie together, then have they warmth, - but how can, one, have warmth? And, though an enemy should prevail against one, two, might make a stand before him, - and, a threefold cord, cannot soon be broken. Better a boy poor and wise, - than a king, old and stupid, who knoweth not how to take warning any longer. For, out of prison, came he forth to reign, yea, even in his own kingdom, was he born poor. I saw all the living, who were going hither and thither under the sun, - that they were with the boy who was to be the second, who was to stand in the other's place: - There was no end to all the people, to all before whom he came, yet, they who should come later, would not rejoice in him, - surely, even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.
Keep thy foot, when thou goest unto the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than dullards to offer sacrifice, - for they make no acknowledgment of doing wrong.
Keep thy foot, when thou goest unto the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than dullards to offer sacrifice, - for they make no acknowledgment of doing wrong. Be not rash with thy mouth, and, with thy heart, be not in haste to bring forth a word, before God, - for, God, is in the heavens, and, thou, upon the earth, for this cause, let thy words be few.
Be not rash with thy mouth, and, with thy heart, be not in haste to bring forth a word, before God, - for, God, is in the heavens, and, thou, upon the earth, for this cause, let thy words be few. For a dream cometh through the multitude of business, - and, the voice of a dullard, is with a multitude of words.
For a dream cometh through the multitude of business, - and, the voice of a dullard, is with a multitude of words. When thou vowest a vow unto God, do not defer to pay it, for there is no pleasure in dullards, - what thou vowest, pay!
When thou vowest a vow unto God, do not defer to pay it, for there is no pleasure in dullards, - what thou vowest, pay! Better that thou shouldest not vow, - than vow, and not pay.
Better that thou shouldest not vow, - than vow, and not pay. Do not let thy mouth cause thy flesh to sin, - neither say thou, before the messenger, that it was, a mistake, - wherefore should God be indignant at thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands?
Do not let thy mouth cause thy flesh to sin, - neither say thou, before the messenger, that it was, a mistake, - wherefore should God be indignant at thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands? For it was done amidst a multitude of dreams, and vanities, and many words, - but, towards God, be thou reverent.
For it was done amidst a multitude of dreams, and vanities, and many words, - but, towards God, be thou reverent.
For it was done amidst a multitude of dreams, and vanities, and many words, - but, towards God, be thou reverent.
Even all his days, are spent in darkness and mourning, - and he is very morose, and is sad and angry. Lo! what, I myself, have seen - Better that it should be excellent to eat and to drink and to see blessedness, in all one's toil wherein one toileth under the sun, for the number of the days of his life, in that God hath given it him, for, that, is his portion: read more. yet, as regardeth every man, to whom God hath given wealth and goods, and granted him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to find gladness in his toil, this, is, the gift of God.
yet, as regardeth every man, to whom God hath given wealth and goods, and granted him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to find gladness in his toil, this, is, the gift of God.
All the toil of man, is for his mouth, - though, even the desire, is not satisfied!
Better what the eyes behold, than the wandering of desire, - even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind. Whatsoever one may be, long ago, was he called by his name, and it is known that it is - Son of Earth, - he cannot, therefore, contend with one stronger than he.
For who knoweth what is good for a man throughout his life, for the number of the days of his life of vanity, seeing he will make them, like a shadow, - for who can tell a man, what shall be after him, under the sun?
Better a name, than precious ointment, - and the day of death, than the day of one's birth.
The heart of the wise, is in the house of mourning, but, the heart of dullards, in the house of mirth. Better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for any man to hear the song of dullards, read more. For, as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so, is the laughter of the dullard, - even this, then, was vanity. For, oppression, maddeneth the wise, - and a bribe, destroyeth the understanding. Better the latter end of a thing, than the beginning thereof, - Better a patient spirit, than a haughty spirit. Do not be rash in thy spirit, to be indignant, - for, indignation, in the bosom of dullards, doth remain. Do not say, What hath happened, that, the former days, were better than these? for, not wisely, askest thou concerning this. Good is wisdom, with an inheritance, - and a profit, to such as see the sun. For, a protection, is wisdom, and, a protection, is silver, - but, the advantage of knowledge, is, that, wisdom, giveth life to the possessors thereof. Consider the work of God, - for who can straighten what he hath bent? In the day of prosperity, be joyful, but, in the day of misfortune, consider, - Even the one equally with the other, hath God made, to the end man might find out - after him - nothing.
It is well that thou shouldst lay fast hold of this, but, even from the other, do not withdraw thy hand, - for, he that revereth God, shall come forth out of them all. Wisdom, bringeth more strength to a wise man, than ten heroes, that are in the city.
I, could indeed find, to be, more bitter than death, the woman, whose heart is, snares and nets, and her hands, bonds, - whoso is pleasing before God, shall escape from her, but, he that sinneth, shall be captured by her.
I, could indeed find, to be, more bitter than death, the woman, whose heart is, snares and nets, and her hands, bonds, - whoso is pleasing before God, shall escape from her, but, he that sinneth, shall be captured by her. See! this, have I found, saith the Proclaimer counting one by one, to find a conclusion; read more. what my soul still sought, yet I found not, - one man out of a thousand, have I found, but, a woman among all these, have I not found. Only, see, this, have I found, That God made man upright, but, they, have sought out many devices.
Who is really a wise man, and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? The wisdom of a man, lighteth up his countenance, but, by defiance of countenance, one is disfigured. I said , The bidding of the king, observe thou, even out of regard to the oath of God.
I said , The bidding of the king, observe thou, even out of regard to the oath of God. Not rashly from his presence, shouldst thou go: do not take thy stand in a vexatious thing, - for, whatsoever he pleaseth, he will do. read more. Where the word of a king is, there is power, - who then may say to him, What wouldst thou do? He that observeth the commandment, will not notice a vexatious thing, - and, of time and manner, will the heart of the wise take note. For, to every pursuit, there is a time and a manner, - when, the vexation of man, is great concerning it.
And, thereupon, I considered the lawless when buried, when they had entered, their graves , that, from the place of the Holy One, they used to go and boast in the city that they had so done, - even this, was vanity.
And, thereupon, I considered the lawless when buried, when they had entered, their graves , that, from the place of the Holy One, they used to go and boast in the city that they had so done, - even this, was vanity. Because sentence against a wicked work is not executed speedily - on this account, the heart of the sons of men is fully set within them, to commit wickedness. read more. Though a sinner be committing wickedness a hundred times, and continuing long in his own way, yet I surely know that it shall be well to them who revere God, who stand in awe before him; but, well, shall it not be to the lawless man, neither shall he lengthen out his days like a shadow, - because he standeth not in awe before God.
Then extolled I, gladness, in that there was nothing better for a man, under the sun, than to eat and to drink, and to be glad, - since, that, should tarry with him in his toil, for the days of his life which God had given him under the sun.
Then I considered all the work of God, that man could not find out the work that was done under the sun, inasmuch as man toileth in seeking and yet cannot find, - yea, even though the wise man should say he knoweth, yet can he not find it out.
Go thy way - eat, with gladness, thy food, and drink, with a happy heart, thy wine, - when already God is well pleased with thy works. Continually, let thy garments be white, - and, ointment upon thy bead, let it not be lacking. read more. Enjoy life, with thy wife whom thou lovest, all the days of thy life of vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all thy days of vanity, - for, that, is thy portion in life, and in thy toil wherewith, thou, art toiling under the sun. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, with thy might, do, - for there is no work nor calculation nor knowledge nor wisdom, in hades, whither, thou, art going.
Even this, had I seen of wisdom, under the sun, - and, of great import, was the same unto me: - A little city, and men therein few, - and there came against it a great king, and surrounded it, and built against it large siege-works; read more. but there was found therein, a man, poor but wise, and, he, delivered the city by his wisdom, - yet, no one, remembered that poor man.
The words of the wise, in quietness, are heard, - beyond the outcry of one who ruleth over dullards.
Dead flies, cause to stink and ferment, the oil of the perfumer, - More costly than wisdom or honour, is a little folly. The sense of the wise, is on his right hand, - But, the sense of the dullard, on his left: read more. Yea, even by the way, as the foolish man walketh along, his sense faileth him - and he telleth everyone that, foolish, is he! If, the spirit of a ruler, riseth up against thee, thy place, do not leave, for gentleness, pacifieth such as have greatly erred. Here was a misfortune I had seen under the sun, - a veritable mistake that was going forth from the presence of one who had power: Folly placed in great dignity, - while, the rich, in a low place, took their seat: I had seen, servants, upon horses, - and, rulers, walking like servants, on the ground. He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, may fall, - and, he that breaketh through a hedge, there may bite him a serpent. He that removeth stones, may be hurt therewith, - and he that cleaveth wood, may be endangered thereby. If, blunt, be the iron, and, himself, hath not sharpened, the edge, then, much force, must he apply, - but, an advantage for giving success, is wisdom. If a serpent will bite, unless he is charmed, then there is nothing better for him that owneth a tongue. The words of a wise man's mouth, are pleasant, - but, the lips of a dullard, will swallow him up: The beginning of the words of his mouth, is folly, - but, the latter end of his speech, is mischievous madness. Yet, a foolish man, multiplieth words, - though no man knoweth that which hath been, and, that which shall be after him, who can tell him? The toil of dullards, shall weary a man, that he knoweth not how to go into the city. Alas! for thee, O land, when thy king is a boy, - and, thy rulers, in the morning, do eat:
By two lazy arms, the framework sinketh in, - and, by the hanging down of the hands, the house may leak.
Even in thy thought, do not revile, the king, nor, within thy bed-chambers, revile thou the rich, - for, a bird of the heavens, might carry the voice, yea, an owner of wings, might tell the matter.
Just as thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, when the body is in the womb of her that is with child, even, so, canst thou not know the work of God, who maketh all.
Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart gladden thee in the days of thine early manhood, and walk thou - in the ways of thine own heart, and in that which is seen by thine own eyes, - yet know, that, for all these things, will God bring thee into judgment.
Yet remember thy Creator, in the days of thy vigour, - or ever come in, the days of discomfort, and the years arrive, in which thou shalt say - I have, in them, no pleasure;
Yet remember thy Creator, in the days of thy vigour, - or ever come in, the days of discomfort, and the years arrive, in which thou shalt say - I have, in them, no pleasure; Or ever be darkened - the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars, - and the clouds return after a downpour of rain; read more. In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the men of might bow themselves, - and the grinders cease because they are few, and they who look through the windows are darkened; And the doors in the street be closed, when the sound of the mill become low, - and one rise at the chirp of a small bird, and low-voiced be all the daughters of song; Yea, at what is high, they be in fear, and there be, terrors, in the way, and the almond be rejected, and the grasshopper drag itself along, and desire perish, - for man is going to his age-abiding home, when the wailers shall go round in the streets; Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, - or the bucket by the fountain be shivered, or the wheel at the well be broken; And the dust return to the earth, as it was, - and, the spirit, return unto God, who gave it.
The words of the wise, are as goads, yea, as driven nails, their well-ordered sayings, - given from one shepherd.
The words of the wise, are as goads, yea, as driven nails, their well-ordered sayings, - given from one shepherd. And besides, from them, my son, be admonished, - Of making many books, there is no end, and, much study, is a weariness of the flesh. read more. The conclusion of the matter - the whole, let us hear, - Towards God, be reverent, and, his commandments, observe, for, this, concerneth all mankind.
The conclusion of the matter - the whole, let us hear, - Towards God, be reverent, and, his commandments, observe, for, this, concerneth all mankind. For, every work, will God bring into judgment, with every hidden thing, - whether good, or evil.
Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the 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;"