1For all this I consideredH5414 in my heartH3820 even to declareH952 all this, that the righteousH6662, and the wiseH2450, and their worksH5652, are in the handH3027 of GodH430: no manH120 knowethH3045 eitherH1571 loveH160 or hatredH8135 by all that is beforeH6440 them. 2All things come alike to all: there is oneH259 eventH4745 to the righteousH6662, and to the wickedH7563; to the goodH2896 and to the cleanH2889, and to the uncleanH2931; to him that sacrificethH2076, and to him thatH834 sacrificethH2076 not: as is the goodH2896, so is the sinnerH2398 ; and he that swearethH7650, as he that fearethH3373 an oathH7621. 3This is an evilH7451 among all things that are doneH6213 under the sunH8121, that there is oneH259 eventH4745 unto all: yea, also the heartH3820 of the sonsH1121 of menH120 is fullH4390 of evilH7451, and madnessH1947 is in their heartH3824 while they liveH2416, and afterH310 that they go to the deadH4191 . 4ForH4310 to him that isH3426 joinedH2266 H977 to all the livingH2416 there is hopeH986: for a livingH2416 dogH3611 is betterH2896 than a deadH4191 lionH738. 5For the livingH2416 knowH3045 that they shall dieH4191 : but the deadH4191 knowH3045 not any thingH3972, neither have they any more a rewardH7939; for the memoryH2143 of them is forgottenH7911 . 6Also their loveH160, and their hatredH8135, and their envyH7068, is nowH3528 perishedH6 ; neither have they any more a portionH2506 for everH5769 in any thing that is doneH6213 under the sunH8121. 7Go thy wayH3212, eatH398 thy breadH3899 with joyH8057, and drinkH8354 thy wineH3196 with a merryH2896 heartH3820; for GodH430 nowH3528 acceptethH7521 thy worksH4639. 8Let thy garmentsH899 be alwaysH6256 whiteH3836; and let thy headH7218 lackH2637 no ointmentH8081. 9LiveH2416 joyfullyH7200 with the wifeH802 whom thou lovestH157 all the daysH3117 of the lifeH2416 of thy vanityH1892, which he hath givenH5414 thee under the sunH8121, all the daysH3117 of thy vanityH1892: for that is thy portionH2506 in this lifeH2416, and in thy labourH5999 which thou takestH6001 under the sunH8121. 10Whatsoever thy handH3027 findethH4672 to doH6213, doH6213 it with thy mightH3581; for there is no workH4639, nor deviceH2808, nor knowledgeH1847, nor wisdomH2451, in the graveH7585, whither thou goestH1980 . 11I returnedH7725, and sawH7200 under the sunH8121, that the raceH4793 is not to the swiftH7031, nor the battleH4421 to the strongH1368, neither yet breadH3899 to the wiseH2450, nor yet richesH6239 to men of understandingH995, nor yet favourH2580 to men of skillH3045 ; but timeH6256 and chanceH6294 happenethH7136 to them all. 12For manH120 also knowethH3045 not his timeH6256: as the fishesH1709 that are takenH270 in an evilH7451 netH4685, and as the birdsH6833 that are caughtH270 in the snareH6341; soH1992 are the sonsH1121 of menH120 snaredH3369 in an evilH7451 timeH6256, when it fallethH5307 suddenlyH6597 upon them. 13ThisH2090 wisdomH2451 have I seenH7200 also under the sunH8121, and it seemed greatH1419 unto me: 14There was a littleH6996 cityH5892, and fewH4592 menH582 within it; and there cameH935 a greatH1419 kingH4428 against it, and besiegedH5437 it, and builtH1129 greatH1419 bulwarksH4685 against it: 15Now there was foundH4672 in it a poorH4542 wiseH2450 manH376, and he by his wisdomH2451 deliveredH4422 the cityH5892; yet no manH120 rememberedH2142 that same poorH4542 manH376. 16Then saidH559 I, WisdomH2451 is betterH2896 than strengthH1369: nevertheless the poor man'sH4542 wisdomH2451 is despisedH959, and his wordsH1697 are not heardH8085 . 17The wordsH1697 of wiseH2450 men are heardH8085 in quietH5183 more than the cryH2201 of him that rulethH4910 among foolsH3684. 18WisdomH2451 is betterH2896 than weaponsH3627 of warH7128: but oneH259 sinnerH2398 destroyethH6 muchH7235 goodH2896.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 (Ecc. 9:1-18)
declare--rather, explore; the result of my exploring is this, that "the righteous, &c., are in the hand of God. No man knoweth either the love or hatred (of God to them) by all that is before them," that is, by what is outwardly seen in His present dealings (
Eccl 8:14,
Eccl 8:17). However, from the sense of the same words, in
Eccl 9:6, "love and hatred" seem to be the feelings of the wicked towards the righteous, whereby they caused to the latter comfort or sorrow. Translate: "Even the love and hatred" (exhibited towards the righteous, are in God's hand) (
Ps 76:10;
Pro 16:7). "No man knoweth all that is before them."
2 All things . . . alike--not universally; but as to death.
Eccl 9:2-
Eccl 9:10 are made by HOLDEN the objection of a skeptical sensualist. However, they may be explained as Solomon's language. He repeats the sentiment already implied in
Eccl 2:14;
Eccl 3:20;
Eccl 8:14.
one event--not eternally; but death is common to all.
good--morally.
clean--ceremonially.
sacrificeth--alike to Josiah who sacrificed to God, and to Ahab who made sacrifice to Him cease.
sweareth--rashly and falsely.
3 Translate, "There is an evil above all (evils) that are done," &c., namely, that not only "there is one event to all," but "also the heart of the sons of men" makes this fact a reason for "madly" persisting in "evil while they live, and after that," &c., sin is "madness."
the dead-- (
Pro 2:18;
Pro 9:18).
4 For--rather, "Nevertheless." English Version rightly reads as the Margin, Hebrew, "that is joined," instead of the text, "who is to be chosen?"
hope--not of mere temporal good (
Job 14:7); but of yet repenting and being saved.
dog--metaphor for the vilest persons (
1Sam 24:14).
lion--the noblest of animals (
Pro 30:30).
better--as to hope of salvation; the noblest who die unconverted have no hope; the vilest, so long as they have life, have hope.
5 know that they shall die--and may thereby be led "so to number their days, that they may apply their hearts to wisdom" (
Eccl 7:1-
Eccl 7:4;
Ps 90:12).
dead know not anything--that is, so far as their bodily senses and worldly affairs are concerned (
Job 14:21;
Isa 63:16); also, they know no door of repentance open to them, such as is to all on earth.
neither . . . reward--no advantage from their worldly labors (
Eccl 2:18-
Eccl 2:22;
Eccl 4:9).
memory--not of the righteous (
Ps 112:6;
Mal 3:16), but the wicked, who with all the pains to perpetuate their names (
Ps 49:11) are soon "forgotten" (
Eccl 8:10).
6 love, and . . . hatred, &c.--(referring to
Eccl 9:1; see on
Eccl 9:1). Not that these cease in a future world absolutely (
Ezek 32:27;
Rev 22:11); but as the end of this verse shows, relatively to persons and things in this world. Man's love and hatred can no longer be exercised for good or evil in the same way as here; but the fruits of them remain. What he is at death he remains for ever. "Envy," too, marks the wicked as referred to, since it was therewith that they assailed the righteous (see on
Eccl 9:1).
portion--Their "portion" was "in this life" (
Ps 17:14), that they now "cannot have any more."
7 Addressed to the "righteous wise," spoken of in
Eccl 9:1. Being "in the hand of God," who now accepteth "thy works" in His service, as He has previously accepted thy person (
Gen 4:4), thou mayest "eat . . . with a cheerful (not sensually 'merry') heart" (
Eccl 3:13;
Eccl 5:18;
Acts 2:46).
8 white--in token of joy (
Isa 61:3). Solomon was clad in white (JOSEPHUS, Antiquities, 8:7,3); hence his attire is compared to the "lilies" (
Matt 6:29), typical of the spotless righteousness of Jesus Christ, which the redeemed shall wear (
Rev 3:18;
Rev 7:14).
ointment-- (
Ps 23:5), opposed to a gloomy exterior (
2Sam 14:2;
Ps 45:7;
Matt 6:17); typical, also (
Eccl 7:1;
Song 1:3).
9 wife . . . lovest--godly and true love, opposed to the "snares" of the "thousand" concubines (
Eccl 7:26,
Eccl 7:28), "among" whom Solomon could not find the true love which joins one man to one woman (
Pro 5:15,
Pro 5:18-
Pro 5:19;
Pro 18:22;
Pro 19:14).
10 Whatsoever--namely, in the service of God. This and last verse plainly are the language of Solomon, not of a skeptic, as HOLDEN would explain it.
hand, &c.-- (
Lev 12:8, Margin;
1Sam 10:7, Margin).
thy might--diligence (
Deut 6:5;
Jer 48:10, Margin).
no work . . . in the grave-- (
John 9:4;
Rev 14:13). "The soul's play-day is Satan's work-day; the idler the man the busier the tempter" [SOUTH].
11 This verse qualifies the sentiment,
Eccl 9:7-
Eccl 9:9. Earthly "enjoyments," however lawful in their place (
Eccl 3:1), are to give way when any work to be done for God requires it. Reverting to the sentiment (
Eccl 8:17), we ought, therefore, not only to work God's work "with might" (
Eccl 9:10), but also with the feeling that the event is wholly "in God's hand" (
Eccl 9:1).
race . . . not to the swift-- (
2Sam 18:23); spiritually (
Zeph 3:19;
Rom 9:16).
nor . . . battle to . . . strong-- (
1Sam 17:47;
2Chr 14:9,
2Chr 14:11,
2Chr 14:15;
Ps 33:16).
bread--livelihood.
favour--of the great.
chance--seemingly, really Providence. But as man cannot "find it out" (
Eccl 3:11), he needs "with all might" to use opportunities. Duties are ours; events, God's.
12 his time--namely, of death (
Eccl 7:15;
Isa 13:22). Hence the danger of delay in doing the work of God, as one knows not when his opportunity will end (
Eccl 9:10).
evil net--fatal to them. The unexpected suddenness of the capture is the point of comparison. So the second coming of Jesus Christ, "as a snare" (
Luke 21:35).
evil time--as an "evil net," fatal to them.
13 Rather, "I have seen wisdom of this kind also," that is, exhibited in the way which is described in what follows [MAURER].
14 (
2Sam 20:16-22).
bulwarks--military works of besiegers.
15 poor--as to the temporal advantages of true wisdom, though it often saves others. It receives little reward from the world, which admires none save the rich and great.
no man remembered-- (
Gen 40:23).
16 Resuming the sentiment (
Eccl 7:19;
Pro 21:22;
Pro 24:5).
poor man's wisdom is despised--not the poor man mentioned in
Eccl 9:15; for his wisdom could not have saved the city, had "his words not been heard"; but poor men in general. So Paul (
Acts 27:11).
17 The words of wise, &c.--Though generally the poor wise man is not heard (
Eccl 9:16), yet "the words of wise men, when heard in quiet (when calmly given heed to, as in
Eccl 9:15), are more serviceable than," &c.
ruleth--as the "great king" (
Eccl 9:14). Solomon reverts to "the rulers to their own hurt" (
Eccl 8:9).
18 one sinner, &c.-- (
Josh 7:1,
Josh 7:11-
Josh 7:12). Though wisdom excels folly (
Eccl 9:16;
Eccl 7:19), yet a "little folly (equivalent to sin) can destroy much good," both in himself (
Eccl 10:1;
Jas 2:10) and in others. "Wisdom" must, from the antithesis to "sinner," mean religion. Thus typically, the "little city" may be applied to the Church (
Luke 12:32;
Heb 12:22); the great king to Satan (
John 12:31); the despised poor wise man, Jesus Christ (
Isa 53:2-
Isa 53:3;
Mark 6:3;
2Cor 8:9;
Eph 1:7-
Eph 1:8;
Col 2:3).