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/ylt'>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 words; lo, I have given to thee a heart, wise and understanding, that like thee there hath not been before thee, and after thee there doth not arise like thee;
I -- I spake with my heart, saying, 'I, lo, I have magnified and added wisdom above every one who hath been before me at Jerusalem, and my heart hath seen abundantly wisdom and knowledge.
I made great my works, I builded for me houses, I planted for me vineyards. I made for me gardens and paradises, and I planted in them trees of every fruit. read more. I made for me pools of water, to water from them a forest shooting forth trees. I got men-servants, and maid-servants, and sons of the house were to me; also, I had much substance -- herd and flock -- above all who had been before me in Jerusalem. I gathered for me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces. I prepared for me men-singers and women-singers, and the luxuries of the sons of man -- a wife and wives. And I became great, and increased above every one who had been before me in Jerusalem; also, my wisdom stood with me.
The end of the whole matter let us hear: -- 'Fear God, and keep His commands, for this is the whole 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.
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Hastings
ECCLESIASTES
1. Title and Canonicity.
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A generation is going, and a generation is coming, and the earth to the age is standing. Also, the sun hath risen, and the sun hath gone in, and unto its place panting it is rising there. read more. Going unto the south, and turning round unto the north, turning round, turning round, the wind is going, and by its circuits the wind hath returned. All the streams are going unto the sea, and the sea is not full; unto a place whither the streams are going, thither they are turning back to go. All these things are wearying; a man is not able to speak, the eye is not satisfied by seeing, nor filled is the ear from hearing. What is that which hath been? it is that which is, and what is that which hath been done? it is that which is done, and there is not an entirely new thing under the sun. There is a thing of which one saith: 'See this, it is new!' already it hath been in the ages that were before us! There is not a remembrance of former generations; and also of the latter that are, there is no remembrance of them with those that are at the last. I, a preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
A crooked thing one is not able to make straight, and a lacking thing is not able to be numbered.
I said in my heart, 'Pray, come, I try thee with mirth, and look thou on gladness;' and lo, even it is vanity. Of laughter I said, 'Foolish!' and of mirth, 'What is this it is doing?' read more. I have sought in my heart to draw out with wine my appetite, (and my heart leading in wisdom), and to take hold on folly till that I see where is this -- the good to the sons of man of that which they do under the heavens, the number of the days of their lives. I made great my works, I builded for me houses, I planted for me vineyards.
I made great my works, I builded for me houses, I planted for me vineyards. I made for me gardens and paradises, and I planted in them trees of every fruit.
I made for me gardens and paradises, and I planted in them trees of every fruit. I made for me pools of water, to water from them a forest shooting forth trees.
I made for me pools of water, to water from them a forest shooting forth trees. I got men-servants, and maid-servants, and sons of the house were to me; also, I had much substance -- herd and flock -- above all who had been before me in Jerusalem.
I got men-servants, and maid-servants, and sons of the house were to me; also, I had much substance -- herd and flock -- above all who had been before me in Jerusalem. I gathered for me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces. I prepared for me men-singers and women-singers, and the luxuries of the sons of man -- a wife and wives.
I gathered for me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces. I prepared for me men-singers and women-singers, and the luxuries of the sons of man -- a wife and wives. And I became great, and increased above every one who had been before me in Jerusalem; also, my wisdom stood with me.
And I became great, and increased above every one who had been before me in Jerusalem; also, my wisdom stood with me. And all that mine eyes asked I kept not back from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labour, and this hath been my portion, from all my labour, read more. and I have looked on all my works that my hands have done, and on the labour that I have laboured to do, and lo, the whole is vanity and vexation of spirit, and there is no advantage under the sun!
and I have looked on all my works that my hands have done, and on the labour that I have laboured to do, and lo, the whole is vanity and vexation of spirit, and there is no advantage under the sun!
and I have looked on all my works that my hands have done, and on the labour that I have laboured to do, and lo, the whole is vanity and vexation of spirit, and there is no advantage under the sun! And I turned to see wisdom, and madness, and folly, but what is the man who cometh after the king? that which is already -- they have done it!
There is nothing good in a man who eateth, and hath drunk, and hath shewn his soul good in his labour. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God.
For to a man who is good before Him, He hath given wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; and to a sinner He hath given travail, to gather and to heap up, to give to the good before God. Even this is vanity and vexation of spirit.
To everything -- a season, and a time to every delight under the heavens: A time to bring forth, And a time to die. A time to plant, And a time to eradicate the planted. read more. A time to slay, 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 skip. A time to cast away stones, And a time to heap up stones. A time to embrace, And a time to be far from embracing. A time to seek, And a time to destroy. 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 advantage hath the doer in that which he is labouring at?
The whole He hath made beautiful in its season; also, that knowledge He hath put in their heart without which man findeth not out the work that God hath done from the beginning even unto the end. I have known that there is no good for them except to rejoice and to do good during their life,
I have known that all that God doth is to the age, to it nothing is to be added, and from it nothing is to be withdrawn; and God hath wrought that they do fear before Him.
I have known that all that God doth is to the age, to it nothing is to be added, and from it nothing is to be withdrawn; and God hath wrought that they do fear before Him. What is that which hath been? already it is, and that which is to be hath already been, and God requireth that which is pursued. read more. And again, I have seen under the sun the place of judgment -- there is the wicked; and the place of righteousness -- there is the wicked. I said in my heart, 'The righteous and the wicked doth God judge, for a time is to every matter and for every work there.' I said in my heart concerning the matter of the sons of man that God might cleanse them, so as to see that they themselves are beasts.
And I have seen that there is nothing better than that man rejoice in his works, for it is his portion; for who doth bring him in to look on that which is after him?
And I have turned, and I see all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and lo, the tear of the oppressed, and they have no comforter; and at the hand of their oppressors is power, and they have no comforter.
The two are better than the one, in that they have a good reward by their labour. For if they fall, the one raiseth up his companion, but woe to the one who falleth and there is not a second to raise him up! read more. Also, if two lie down, then they have heat, but how hath one heat? And if the one strengthen himself, the two stand against him; and the threefold cord is not hastily broken. Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who hath not known to be warned any more. For from a house of prisoners he hath come out to reign, for even in his own kingdom he hath been poor. I have seen all the living, who are walking under the sun, with the second youth who doth stand in his place; there is no end to all the people, to all who were before them; also, the latter rejoice not in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Keep thy feet when thou goest unto a house of God, and draw near to hear rather than to give of fools the sacrifice, for they do not know they do evil.
Keep thy feet when thou goest unto a house of God, and draw near to hear rather than to give of fools the sacrifice, for they do not know they do evil. Cause not thy mouth to hasten, and let not thy heart hasten to bring out a word before God, for God is in the heavens, and thou on the earth, therefore let thy words be few.
Cause not thy mouth to hasten, and let not thy heart hasten to bring out a word before God, for God is in the heavens, and thou on the earth, therefore let thy words be few. For the dream hath come by abundance of business, and the voice of a fool by abundance of words.
For the dream hath come by abundance of business, and the voice of a fool by abundance of words. When thou vowest a vow to God, delay not to complete it, for there is no pleasure in fools; that which thou vowest -- complete.
When thou vowest a vow to God, delay not to complete it, for there is no pleasure in fools; that which thou vowest -- complete. Better that thou do not vow, than that thou dost vow and dost not complete.
Better that thou do not vow, than that thou dost vow and dost not complete. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger, that 'it is an error,' why is God wroth because of thy voice, and hath destroyed the work of thy hands?
Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger, that 'it is an error,' why is God wroth because of thy voice, and hath destroyed the work of thy hands? For, in the abundance of dreams both vanities and words abound; but fear thou God.
For, in the abundance of dreams both vanities and words abound; but fear thou God.
For, in the abundance of dreams both vanities and words abound; but fear thou God.
Also all his days in darkness he consumeth, and sadness, and wrath, and sickness abound. Lo, that which I have seen: It is good, because beautiful, to eat, and to drink, and to see good in all one's labour that he laboureth at under the sun, the number of the days of his life that God hath given to him, for it is his portion. read more. Every man also to whom God hath given wealth and riches, and hath given him power to eat of it, and to accept his portion, and to rejoice in his labour, this is a gift of God.
Every man also to whom God hath given wealth and riches, and hath given him power to eat of it, and to accept his portion, and to rejoice in his labour, this is a gift of God.
All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the soul is not filled.
Better is the sight of the eyes than the going of the soul. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit. What is that which hath been? already is its name called, and it is known that it is man, and he is not able to contend with him who is stronger than he.
For who knoweth what is good for a man in life, the number of the days of the life of his vanity, and he maketh them as a shadow? for who declareth to man what is after him under the sun?
Better is a name than good perfume, And the day of death than the day of birth.
The heart of the wise is in a house of mourning, And the heart of fools in a house of mirth. Better to hear a rebuke of a wise man, Than for a man to hear a song of fools, read more. For as the noise of thorns under the pot, So is the laughter of a fool, even this is vanity. Surely oppression maketh the wise mad, And a gift destroyeth the heart. Better is the latter end of a thing than its beginning, Better is the patient of spirit, than the haughty of spirit. Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry, For anger in the bosom of fools resteth. Say not thou, 'What was it, That the former days were better than these?' For thou hast not asked wisely of this. Wisdom is good with an inheritance, And an advantage it is to those beholding the sun. For wisdom is a defense, money is a defence, And the advantage of the knowledge of wisdom is, She reviveth her possessors. See the work of God, For who is able to make straight that which He made crooked? In a day of prosperity be in gladness, And in a day of evil consider. Also this over-against that hath God made, To the intent that man doth not find anything after him.
It is good that thou dost lay hold on this, and also, from that withdrawest not thy hand, for whoso is fearing God goeth out with them all. The wisdom giveth strength to a wise man, more than wealth the rulers who have been in a city.
And I am finding more bitter than death, the woman whose heart is nets and snares, her hands are bands; the good before God escapeth from her, but the sinner is captured by her.
And I am finding more bitter than death, the woman whose heart is nets and snares, her hands are bands; the good before God escapeth from her, but the sinner is captured by her. See, this I have found, said the Preacher, one to one, to find out the reason read more. (that still my soul had sought, and I had not found), One man, a teacher, I have found, and a woman among all these I have not found. See, this alone I have found, that God made man upright, and they -- they have sought out many devices.
Who is as the wise? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? The wisdom of man causeth his face to shine, and the hardness of his face is changed. I pray thee, the commandment of a king keep, even for the sake of the oath of God.
I pray thee, the commandment of a king keep, even for the sake of the oath of God. Be not troubled at his presence, thou mayest go, stand not in an evil thing, for all that he pleaseth he doth. read more. Where the word of a king is power is, and who saith to him, 'What dost thou?' Whoso is keeping a command knoweth no evil thing, and time and judgment the heart of the wise knoweth. For to every delight there is a time and a judgment, for the misfortune of man is great upon him.
And so I have seen the wicked buried, and they went in, even from the Holy Place they go, and they are forgotten in the city whether they had so done. This also is vanity.
And so I have seen the wicked buried, and they went in, even from the Holy Place they go, and they are forgotten in the city whether they had so done. This also is vanity. Because sentence hath not been done on an evil work speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of man is full within them to do evil. read more. Though a sinner is doing evil a hundred times, and prolonging himself for it, surely also I know that there is good to those fearing God, who fear before Him. And good is not to the wicked, and he doth not prolong days as a shadow, because he is not fearing before God.
And I have praised mirth because there is no good to man under the sun except to eat and to drink, and to rejoice, and it remaineth with him of his labour the days of his life that God hath given to him under the sun.
then I considered all the work of God, that man is not able to find out the work that hath been done under the sun, because though man labour to seek, yet he doth not find; and even though the wise man speak of knowing he is not able to find.
Go, eat with joy thy bread, and drink with a glad heart thy wine, for already hath God been pleased with thy works. At all times let thy garments be white, and let not perfume be lacking on thy head. read more. See life with the wife whom thou hast loved, all the days of the life of thy vanity, that He hath given to thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity, for it is thy portion in life, even of thy labour that thou art labouring at under the sun. All that thy hand findeth to do, with thy power do, for there is no work, and device, and knowledge, and wisdom in Sheol whither thou art going.
This also I have seen: wisdom under the sun, and it is great to me. A little city, and few men in it, and a great king hath come unto it, and hath surrounded it, and hath built against it great bulwarks; read more. and there hath been found in it a poor wise man, and he hath delivered the city by his wisdom, and men have not remembered that poor man!
The words of the wise in quiet are heard, More than the cry of a ruler over fools.
Dead flies cause a perfumer's perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom -- By reason of honour -- a little folly! The heart of the wise is at his right hand, And the heart of a fool at his left. read more. And also, when he that is a fool Is walking in the way, his heart is lacking, And he hath said to every one, 'He is a fool.' If the spirit of the ruler go up against thee, Thy place leave not, For yielding quieteth great sinners. There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As an error that goeth out from the ruler, He hath set the fool in many high places, And the rich in a low place do sit. I have seen servants on horses, And princes walking as servants on the earth. Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And whoso is breaking a hedge, a serpent biteth him. Whoso is removing stones is grieved by them, Whoso is cleaving trees endangered by them. If the iron hath been blunt, And he the face hath not sharpened, Then doth he increase strength, And wisdom is advantageous to make right. If the serpent biteth without enchantment, Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue. Words of the mouth of the wise are gracious, And the lips of a fool swallow him up. The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly, And the latter end of his mouth Is mischievous madness. And the fool multiplieth words: 'Man knoweth not that which is, And that which is after him, who doth declare to him?' The labour of the foolish wearieth him, In that he hath not known to go unto the city. Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a youth, And thy princes do eat in the morning.
By slothfulness is the wall brought low, And by idleness of the hands doth the house drop.
Even in thy mind a king revile not, And in the inner parts of thy bed-chamber Revile not the rich: For a fowl of the heavens causeth the voice to go, And a possessor of wings declareth the word.
As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, How -- bones in the womb of the full one, So thou knowest not the work of God who maketh the whole.
Rejoice, O young man, in thy childhood, And let thy heart gladden thee in days of thy youth, And walk in the ways of thy heart, And in the sight of thine eyes, And know thou that for all these, Doth God bring thee into judgment.
Remember also thy Creators in days of thy youth, While that the evil days come not, Nor the years have arrived, that thou sayest, 'I have no pleasure in them.'
Remember also thy Creators in days of thy youth, While that the evil days come not, Nor the years have arrived, that thou sayest, 'I have no pleasure in them.' While that the sun is not darkened, and the light, And the moon, and the stars, And the thick clouds returned after the rain. read more. In the day that keepers of the house tremble, And men of strength have bowed themselves, And grinders have ceased, because they have become few. And those looking out at the windows have become dim, And doors have been shut in the street. When the noise of the grinding is low, And one riseth at the voice of the bird, And all daughters of song are bowed down. Also of that which is high they are afraid, And of the low places in the way, And the almond-tree is despised, And the grasshopper is become a burden, And want is increased, For man is going unto his home age-during, And the mourners have gone round through the street. While that the silver cord is not removed, And the golden bowl broken, And the pitcher broken by the fountain, And the wheel broken at the well. And the dust returneth to the earth as it was, And the spirit returneth to God who gave it.
Words of the wise are as goads, and as fences planted by the masters of collections, they have been given by one shepherd.
Words of the wise are as goads, and as fences planted by the masters of collections, they have been given by one shepherd. And further, from these, my son, be warned; the making of many books hath no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. read more. The end of the whole matter let us hear: -- 'Fear God, and keep His commands, for this is the whole of man.
The end of the whole matter let us hear: -- 'Fear God, and keep His commands, for this is the whole of man. For every work doth God bring into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether good or bad.'
where is the wise? where the scribe? where a disputer of this age? did not God make 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;"