Ecclesiastes
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Ecclesiastes 6
Ecclesiastes 6
1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy upon men: 2a man to whom God giveth riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacketh nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but an alien eateth it; this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:
2A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
Commentary · verses 1-2
3If a man beget a hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul be not filled with good, and moreover he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he:
3If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.
Commentary · verse 3
Again, the focus was on the physical and short term gain. Solomon was stating that if a man was not filled with good while he lived many years it was better to have been an "untimely birth" (abortion, miscarriage). Again, Solomon's focus was on limiting the unprofitability. He had no solutions for how to be profitable.
4for it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and the name thereof is covered with darkness; 5moreover it hath not seen the sun nor known it; this hath rest rather than the other: 6yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet enjoy no good, do not all go to one place?
4For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.
5Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.
6Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?
Commentary · verses 4-6
Solomon was saying that it really did not matter how long you lived or what you have enjoyed, all people die. Did he recognize life after our physical death? Did he recognize Justice would be resolved?
7All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
7All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
Commentary · verse 7
Focusing on the physical led to never being fully satisfied. Current happiness studies confirm this same point. Why do people still try to make this method satisfying?
8For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? or what hath the poor man, that knoweth how to walk before the living?
9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
10Whatsoever hath been, the name thereof was given long ago; and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him that is mightier than he.
11Seeing there are many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
12For who knoweth what is good for man in his life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
8For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
10That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.
11Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
12For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
Commentary · verses 8-12
Wow, Solomon's thinking took a very negative turn. Solomon said that we did not know what was good for our brief lives.
Commentary · verse 12
Ecclesiastes 4-6 covered Solomon's belief that he built on his faulty foundation from the first three chapters: No one could know the profitable solution. The best we could do with God and each other was limit our unprofitability. Solomon thought he was doing his part by not helping the needy.
This chapter again began focused on God, but almost immediately moved to a discussion about wealth and unprofitability. Solomon identified another way wealth did not lead to profitability. The evil Solomon mentioned here was man being given riches but not being able to spend them. This was short term and focused on effects.