Eclesiastés 7:15-20 NVI

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 7:18

It is good that thou shouldest take hold or this - Do not let such an observation slip: take hold of this; do not forget that. Get what you can in an honest way; but do not forget to get true religion; for he that fears God will be saved from all evil. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 7:19

Wisdom strengtheneth the wise - One wise, thoroughly learned, and scientific man, may be of more use in fortifying and defending a city, than ten princes. Witness the case of Syracuse, when attacked by the Romans both by sea and land. Archimedes, by his engines, burnt and dashed their fleet to pieces, and destroyed all that came near the walls. And had not the city been betrayed and he killed, all their force and skill could not have taken it. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 7:20

There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not - יחטא לא lo yechta , that may not sin. There is not a man upon earth, however just he may be, and habituated to do good, but is peccable - liable to commit sin; and therefore should continually watch and pray, and depend upon the Lord. But the text does not say, the just man does commit sin, but simply that he may sin; and so our translators have rendered it in 1 Samuel 2:25 , twice in 1 Kings 8:31 , 1 Kings 8:46 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:15

All things have I seen in the days of my vanity . Koheleth gives his own experience of an anomalous condition which often obtains in human affairs. "All," being here defined by the article, must refer to the cases which he has mentioned or proceeds to mention. "The days of vanity" mean merely "fleeting, vain days" (comp. Ecclesiastes 6:12 ). The expression denotes the writer's view of the emptiness and transitoriness of life ( Ecclesiastes 1:2 ), and it may also have special reference to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:15-22

Section 3. Warnings against excesses , and praise of the golden mean , which is practical wisdom and the art of living happily. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:16

Be not righteous over much . The exhortation has been variously interpreted to warn against too scrupulous observance of ritual and ceremonial religion, or the mistaken piety which neglects all mundane affairs, or the Pharisaical spirit which is bitter in condemning others who fall short of one's own standard. Cox will have it that the advice signifies that a prudent man will not be very righteous, since he will gain nothing by it, nor very wicked, as he will certainly shorten his life by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:17

Be not over much wicked neither be thou foolish. These two injunctions are parallel and correlative to those in Ecclesiastes 7:16 concerning over-righteousness and over-wisdom. But the present verse cannot be meant, as at first sight it seems to do, to sanction a certain amount of wickedness provided it does not exceed due measure. To surmount this difficulty some have undefined to modify the term "wicked" ( rasha ), taking it to mean "engaged in worldly matters," or "not subject to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:18

It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand. The pronouns refer to the two warnings in Ecclesiastes 7:16 and Ecclesiastes 7:17 against over-righteousness and over-wickedness. Koheleth does not advise a man to make trial of opposite lines of conduct, to taste the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, that from a wide experience lie may, like a man of the world, pursue a safe course; this would be poor morality , and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:19

Wisdom strengtheneth the wise . The moderation enjoined is the only true wisdom, which, indeed, is the most powerful incentive and support. "Wisdom proves itself stronger" (as the verb is put intransitively) "to the wise man." Septuagint, βοηθήσει ," will help;" Vulgate, confortuvit , "hath strengthened." The spiritual and moral force of the wisdom grounded upon the fear of God is here signified, and is all the more insisted upon to counteract any erroneous impression conveyed by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:20

The wisdom above signified is, indeed, absolutely necessary, if one would escape the consequences of that frailty of nature which leads to transgression. Wisdom shows the sinner a way out of the evil course in which he is walking, and puts him back in that fear of God which is his only safety. For there is not a just man upon earth. The verse confirms Ecclesiastes 7:19 . Even the just man sinneth, and therefore needs wisdom. That doeth good, and sinneth not. This reminds us of the words... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 7:18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 7:19

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 7:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:15

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:15-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:17

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:18

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:19

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:20

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