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/nsb'>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.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
I will do what you have asked. I will give you more wisdom and understanding than anyone has ever had. There has never been nor will ever be anyone like you.
I said to my heart, I have become great and have acquired more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has seen an abundance of wisdom and knowledge.
I made great works. I built houses for myself. I planted vineyards for myself. I made myself parks and fruit gardens, planting in them fruit-trees of all kinds. read more. I made water pools from which to water the young trees. I acquired male and female 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 gathered silver and gold and the wealth of kings and of countries. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, girls of all sorts to be my brides. I became great and increased more than all who had been before me in Jerusalem and my wisdom remained with me.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Respect God, and obey his commandments for this is the whole duty of 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.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
Hastings
ECCLESIASTES
1. Title and Canonicity.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
One generation goes and another generation comes, but the earth remains forever (without end). The sun rises and the sun goes down, and it quickly goes back to the place where it began. read more. The wind blows toward the south, and it turns around to the north. It whirls around continually and the wind returns on its circuits. All the rivers run into the sea yet the sea is not full. The rivers return to the place where they began. All things are wearisome; man is not able to tell. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. That which has been is that which will be. That which has been done is that which will be done. There is nothing new under the sun! Is there anything of which it may be said: See, this is new? It has already existed in days of old, which were before us. There is no memory of former things. Those who follow will not remember those who are yet to come. I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
What is crooked cannot be made straight. What is lacking cannot be numbered.
I said in my heart, Come now, I will test you with rejoicing. Consider goodness. This also is vanity. I said of laughter: It is madness. And of pleasure: What does it do? read more. I searched in my mind how to stimulate my flesh with wine. My mind guided my heart with wisdom. I possessed foolishness until I could see what was good for the sons of men. I saw what they should do under the heavens all the days of their life. I made great works. I built houses for myself. I planted vineyards for myself.
I made great works. I built houses for myself. I planted vineyards for myself. I made myself parks and fruit gardens, planting in them fruit-trees of all kinds.
I made myself parks and fruit gardens, planting in them fruit-trees of all kinds. I made water pools from which to water the young trees.
I made water pools from which to water the young trees. I acquired male and female 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 acquired male and female 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 gathered silver and gold and the wealth of kings and of countries. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, girls of all sorts to be my brides.
I gathered silver and gold and the wealth of kings and of countries. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, girls of all sorts to be my brides. I became great and increased more than all who had been before me in Jerusalem and my wisdom remained with me.
I became great and increased more than all who had been before me in Jerusalem and my wisdom remained with me. Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold joy from my heart. My heart took pleasure in all my work and this was my reward. read more. I looked at all the works my hands accomplished. I saw everything I had worked to do. I saw that all was vanity and grasping for the wind. It was to no purpose for there was no profit under the sun.
I looked at all the works my hands accomplished. I saw everything I had worked to do. I saw that all was vanity and grasping for the wind. It was to no purpose for there was no profit under the sun.
I looked at all the works my hands accomplished. I saw everything I had worked to do. I saw that all was vanity and grasping for the wind. It was to no purpose for there was no profit under the sun. I went again in search of wisdom and of foolish ways. What can the man do that comes after the king? Only what he has already done.
There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink, and delight in his work. This also I saw was from the hand of God.
To the man who is good, 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 who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
For everything there is a season. There is a time for every purpose under the sun. There is a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pull up 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 mourn, and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to get and a time to lose; a time to keep and a time to throw away. There is a time to tear and a time to sew, a time to keep silence and a time to speak. There is also a time to love and a time to hate, a time of war and a time of peace. What profit is there to the worker in his work?
He made everything appropriate (beautiful) (good) in its time. God placed eternity in the heart of man. For 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 rejoice and to do good works in life.
I know that whatever God does it will be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor any thing taken from it. God does it in order that men should reverence (respect) him.
I know that whatever God does it will be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor any thing taken from it. God does it in order that men should reverence (respect) him. That which is has already been and that which is to be has already been. God seeks what has passed by. read more. I saw under the sun the place of judgment and wickedness was there. And wickedness was in the place of righteousness. I said in my heart, God should judge the righteous and the wicked for there is a time for every purpose and for every work. I said in my heart concerning the condition of the sons of men, God tested them that they might see that they are like animals.
I see there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his own works. That is his portion. Who will bring him to see what will happen after him?
I returned and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed for they had no one to comfort them. The oppressors had power but they had no one to comfort them.
Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor. If they fall, the one will lift up his companion. Woe to him who is alone when he falls for he has no one to help him. read more. If two lies down together they keep warm. How can one be warm alone? One can be overpowered by another, two can withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king who will no longer take advise. He comes out of prison to rule as king. He that is born in his kingdom becomes poor. I considered all the living that walk under the sun, with the second child that will stand up in the king's place. There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them. Those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
Guard your step when you go to the house of God. It is better to go there and listen than to bring the sacrifices fools bring. Fools are not aware that they do evil.
Guard your step when you go to the house of God. It is better to go there and listen than to bring the sacrifices fools bring. Fools are not aware that they do evil. Do not be in a hurry to talk. Do not be eager to speak in the presence of God. Since God is in heaven and you are on earth, limit the number of your words.
Do not be in a hurry to talk. Do not be eager to speak in the presence of God. Since God is in heaven and you are on earth, limit the number of your words. Dreams come with many efforts, trials and concerns. Fools speak with too many words.
Dreams come with many efforts, trials and concerns. Fools speak with too many words. Do not be late in paying a vow you make to God. He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow!
Do not be late in paying a vow you make to God. He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow! It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.
It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Do not let your speech cause you to sin. Do not say to the messenger of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry because of what you say and destroy the work of your hands?
Do not let your speech cause you to sin. Do not say to the messenger of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry because of what you say and destroy the work of your hands? There is futility and emptiness in many dreams and in many words. Reverence God.
There is futility and emptiness in many dreams and in many words. Reverence God.
There is futility and emptiness in many dreams and in many words. Reverence God.
All his days he eats in darkness. He has much sorrow and anger with his sickness. This is what I have seen. It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink and enjoy the good of his labor. He labors under the sun all the days of his life. For God gives this to him as his allotment (inheritance). read more. For every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has empowered him to eat because of them. He should receive his reward and rejoice in his labor. This is the gift of God.
For every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has empowered him to eat because of them. He should receive his reward and rejoice in his labor. This is the gift of God.
All the labor of man is for his mouth and yet the appetite is not satisfied.
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering after the desire. This is also vanity and a striving after wind. That which exists is named already. It is known and he cannot dispute with the one that is mightier than he.
Who knows what is good for man in this life? Are all the days of his vain life that he spends like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after his existence under the sun?
A good name (honor) (renown) (reputation) is better than pleasant ointment and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
The heart (feelings) of the wise is in the house of mourning. The heart of fools is in the house of rejoicing. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. read more. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity. Oppression makes a wise man foolish (emotionally unstable) (mentally ill) and a bribe destroys the heart. Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Do not be quick in your spirit (mind) (figurative heart) to be angry. Anger rests in the bosom of fools. Do not ask: Why were the old days better then these? You do not inquire wisely about this. Wisdom is good as an inheritance: It is an advantage to those who see the sun. Wisdom is a shelter just as money is a shelter. The advantage of knowledge is that wisdom gives lift to those who have it. Consider the work of God. Who can make straight what he has made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider that God made one as well as the other, to the end that man should find nothing that comes after him.
It is good that you should take hold of this and also from this not withdraw your hand, for he who respects God will come forth from them all. Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men who are in the city.
I find what was worse than death is the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands are chains. He who pleases God will escape from her. But she will capture the sinner.
I find what was worse than death is the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands are chains. He who pleases God will escape from her. But she will capture the sinner. Behold, this I have found, says the preacher, counting one by one to find out the account: read more. For I am still seeking and have not found. One man among a thousand I have found; but a woman among all those I have not found. You see! I have found only this, that God made man upright. But they have sought out many devices (schemes) (reasonings).
Who is like the wise man? Who knows the interpretation of a message? A man's wisdom illuminates him, and the hardness of his countenance (appearance) is changed. I counsel you: Keep the king's command because of the oath before God.
I counsel you: Keep the king's command because of the oath before God. Do not be in a hurry to leave him. Do not persist in an evil activity, for he does whatever he pleases. read more. There is power (authority) in the word of a king. Who may ask him: What are you doing? He who obeys the king's command will feel no harm. A wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment. This is because to every purpose there is time and judgment. Even so man's misery is great.
I saw the wicked buried, those who had come and gone out of the holy place. They were forgotten in the city where they had so done. This also is vanity.
I saw the wicked buried, those who had come and gone out of the holy place. They were forgotten in the city where they had so done. This also is vanity. Sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly. Therefore the hearts of the sons of men are fully committed to do evil. read more. Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and he lives a long life, yet I know that it will be well with those who respect (reverence) God and worship him. Things will not go well with the wicked. He will not prolong his days. His days are like a shadow. He does not respect God.
Then I commended enjoyment (pleasure), because a man has no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry. That will remain with him in his labor all the days of his life, which God gives him under the sun.
I saw all the work of God. A man cannot discover the work that is done under the sun. Though a man labor to seek it out, yet he will not find it. Though a wise man thinks to know it, yet he will not be able to find it.
Go your way, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart for God now accepts your works. Let your garments be always white; and let your head lack no ointment. read more. Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of the life he has given you under the sun, all the days of your vanity. That is your share in this life and in your labor under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, where you are going.
I have seen this wisdom under the sun, and it seemed important to me. There was a little city with a small population. A great king moved against it. He built great bulwarks against it and attacked it. read more. Now there was found in it a poor wise man. By his wisdom he delivered the city. Yet no man remembered that same poor man.
The words of the wise heard in quietness are more than the loud cry of the ruler of fools.
Dead flies cause the perfumer's oil to smell. A little foolishness does the same for the one with a reputation for wisdom and honor. A wise man's heart is at his right hand and a fool's heart at his left. read more. When he who is a fool walks along the path, his wisdom fails him, and he says to every one that he is a fool. If the temper of the ruler rises up against you do not withdraw from him for gentleness can put a stop to great offenses. There is an evil that I have seen under the sun. It is like an error that proceeds from the ruler. Craziness is set in many exalted places, and the rich sit in low places. I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking like servants upon the earth. He that digs a pit will fall into it. A serpent will bite whoever breaks through a hedge. Whoever removes landmark stones will be hurt. They will endanger the one who cuts down trees. If the ax is dull, and he does not whet the edge, he must put forth more effort. Wisdom helps him to succeed. Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment. A slanderer is no better than an uncharmed snake. The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness. The result of his talk is mischievous madness. A fool also is full of words. A man cannot predict what will be and what will be after him. Who can tell him? The labor of the foolish wearies everyone of them, because he does not know how to go to the city. Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child and your princes eat in the morning!
By indolence the building decays; and through idleness of the hands the house collapses.
Do not curse the king, no not even in thought. Do not curse the rich in your bedchamber for a bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which has wings will tell the matter.
You do not know what is the way of the wind, nor how the bones grow in the womb of a pregnant woman. Even so you do not know the works of God who creates all.
Rejoice, O young man, in your youth. Let your heart cheer you in your early days. Walk in the ways of your heart, and in the desires of your eyes. Yet you know that God will bring you into judgment for all these things.
Remember your Creator (Hebrew: Bara', plural, Creators denotes majesty) (Ge 1:26) in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near. You will say: I have no pleasure in them.
Remember your Creator (Hebrew: Bara', plural, Creators denotes majesty) (Ge 1:26) in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near. You will say: I have no pleasure in them. Before the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, are darkened, or the clouds return after the rain: read more. In the day when the keepers of the house will tremble, and the strong men will bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows are darkened, And the doors will be shut in the streets. When the sound of the grinding is low he will rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music will be brought low. Also when they will be afraid of what is high, and fears will be in the way, and the almond tree will flourish, and the grasshopper will be a burden, and the caper berry breaks and desire fails, man goes to his long lasting home and the mourners go about the streets. When the silver cord is snapped apart, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was. The spirit (life) will return to God who gave it.
The words of the wise are like prodding goads, and like nails fastened by the masters of assemblies. They are given from one shepherd.
The words of the wise are like prodding goads, and like nails fastened by the masters of assemblies. They are given from one shepherd. By these, my son, be admonished! There is no end to publishing many books. Also much study is a weariness of the flesh. read more. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Respect God, and obey his commandments for this is the whole duty of man.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Respect God, and obey his commandments for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every work into judgment with every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil.
Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? 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;"