A good name [is] better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth. Ver. 1. _A good name is better than precious ointment._] Yea, than great riches. _See Trapp on "_ Pro 22:1 _"_ The initial letter _a_ of the Hebrew word for "good" here is larger than ordinary, to show... [ Continue Reading ]
Ecclesiastes 7:2 [It is] better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that [is] the end of all men; and the living will lay [it] to his heart. Ver. 2. _It is better to go to the house of mourning._] To the _terming house,_ as they term it, where a dead corpse is l... [ Continue Reading ]
Sorrow [is] better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. Ver. 3. _Sorrow is better than laughter._] Here, as likewise in the two former verses, is a collation and prelation; "Sorrow," or indignation conceived for sin, "is better than laughter," - _i.e., _ ca... [ Continue Reading ]
The heart of the wise [is] in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools [is] in the house of mirth. Ver. 4. _The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning._] He gladly makes use of all good means of minding his mortality, and holds it a high point of heavenly wisdom so to do. Hence he frequ... [ Continue Reading ]
Ecclesiastes 7:5 [It is] better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. Ver. 5. _It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise._] Sharp truth takes better with an honest heart than a smooth supparasitation. Seneca compares flattery to a song or symphony; but it is a... [ Continue Reading ]
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so [is] the laughter of the fool: this also [is] vanity. Ver. 6. _For as the crackling of thorns under a pot._] Much noise, little fire; much light, little heat. So here is much mirth, little cause; a blaze it may yield, but is suddenly extinct; this blaz... [ Continue Reading ]
Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart. Ver. 7. _Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad,_] viz., Till such time as he hath recollected himself, and summoned the sobriety of his senses before his own judgment - till he hath reasoned himself and prayed himself out o... [ Continue Reading ]
Better [is] the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: [and] the patient in spirit [is] better than the proud in spirit. Ver. 8. _Better is the end of a thing than the beginning._] No right judgment can be made of anything unless we can see the end of it. God seems oft to go a contrary way to w... [ Continue Reading ]
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. Ver. 9. _Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry._] The hasty man, we say, never wants woe. For wrath is an evil counsellor, and enwrappeth a man in manifold troubles, mischiefs, and miseries. It makes man like the bee,... [ Continue Reading ]
Say not thou, What is [the cause] that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this. Ver. 10. _Say not thou, What is the cause? &c._] This, saith an interpreter, _a_ is the continual complaint of the wicked moody and the wicked needy. The moody Papists wo... [ Continue Reading ]
Wisdom [is] good with an inheritance: and [by it there is] profit to them that see the sun. Ver. 11. _Wisdom is good with an inheritance,_] _a_ So is it without it, but not so good, because wealth is both an ornament, an instrument, and an encouragement to wisdom. Aristides, saith Plutarch, _b_ sla... [ Continue Reading ]
_For wisdom [is] a defence, [and] money [is] a defence: but the excellency of knowledge [is, that] wisdom giveth life to them that have it._ Ver. 12. _For wisdom is a defence, and money, &c._] Heb., A shadow; viz., to those that have seen the sun (as in the former verse), and are scorched with the... [ Continue Reading ]
Consider the work of God: for who can make [that] straight, which he hath made crooked? _Ver 13. Consider the work of God, &c._] _q.d., _ Stoop, since there is no standing out. See God in that thou sufferest, and submit. God by a crooked tool many times makes straight work; he avengeth the quarrel... [ Continue Reading ]
In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him. Ver. 14. _In the day of prosperity be joyful._] Here we have some fair days, some foul - crosses like foul weather, come bef... [ Continue Reading ]
All [things] have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just [man] that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked [man] that prolongeth [his life] in his wickedness. Ver. 15. _All things have I seen in the days of my vanity,_] _i.e., _ Of my life, which is so very a vanity that no... [ Continue Reading ]
_Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?_ Ver. 16. _Be not righteous over much, neither make, &c._] Virtue consists in a mediocrity. _Omne quod est nimium vertitur in vitium._ A rigid severity may mar all. _a_ "Let your moderation, το ετιεκες,... [ Continue Reading ]
Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? Ver. 17. _Be not wicked over much,_] viz., Because thou seest some wicked men live long, and scape scot free for the present, as Ecclesiastes 7:15. For God may cut thee short enough, and make thee die before t... [ Continue Reading ]
Ecclesiastes 7:18 [It is] good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all. Ver. 18. _It is good that thou shouldst take hold of this,_] _i.e., _ Of this golden mean, walking accurately by line and by rule,... [ Continue Reading ]
Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty [men] which are in the city. Ver. 19. _Wisdom strengtheneth the wise, &c._] Prudence excelleth puissance, and counsel valour. This made Agamemnon set such a price upon Ulysses; Darius, upon Zopyrus; the Syracusans, upon Archimedes; the Spartans, up... [ Continue Reading ]
For [there is] not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. Ver. 20. _For there is not a just man upon earth._] No, this is reserved for the state of perfection in heaven, where are "the spirits of just men made perfect." Heb 12:23 It was the cavil wherewith the Pelagians troubled S... [ Continue Reading ]
Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: Ver. 21. _Also take no heed._] But be "as a deaf man that heareth not, and as a dumb man, in whose mouth there is no reproof." Psa 38:13 If thou answer anything, say as he in Tacitus did to one that railed at h... [ Continue Reading ]
For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others. Ver. 22. _For oftentimes also thine own heart knows._] Conscience is God's spy, and man's overseer; and though some can make a sorry shift to muzzle her for a time, or to stop their own ears, yet _ipsa se off... [ Continue Reading ]
All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it [was] far from me. Ver. 23. _I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me._] Solomon here seems to say of wisdom, as Nazianzen doth of God the author of it, _Tantum recedit, quantum capitur._ Not that wisdom itself doth fly away, bu... [ Continue Reading ]
That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out? Ver. 24. _That which is far of and exceeding deep._] Not the minions of the muses, _Mentemque habere queis bonam, et esse corculis datum est._ _a_ For though they should eviscerate themselves, like spiders, crack their sconces, or stud... [ Continue Reading ]
I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason [of things], and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness [and] madness: Ver. 25. _I applied mine heart._] _Circuivi ego et cot meum,_ so the original runs; I and my heart turned about, or made a circle... [ Continue Reading ]
And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart [is] snares and nets, [and] her hands [as] bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her. Ver. 26. _And I found more bitter than death._] _Amantes amentes: Amor amaror, Plus aloes quam mellis habet._ Kn... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, [counting] one by one, to find out the account:_ Ver. 27. _Behold, this I have found._] Eυρηκα, Eυρηκα, ‘I have found it, I have found it,' said the philosopher. _Vicimus, Vicimus,_ We have prevailed, we have prevailed, said Luther, when he had been p... [ Continue Reading ]
_Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found._ Ver. 28. _Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not._] There is a place in Wiltshire called Stonhenge, for various great stones lying and standing there together: of whi... [ Continue Reading ]
Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. Ver. 29. _That God hath made man upright,_] viz., In his own image - _i.e., _ " knowledge" in his understanding part, "rightness" in his will, and "holiness" in his affections: Col 3:10 his heart w... [ Continue Reading ]