Eclesiastes 5:17-19 NVIPT

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:17

The misery that accompanies the rich man's whole life is summed up here, where one has to think chiefly of his distress after his loss of fortune. All his days also he eateth in darkness ; i . e . passes his life in gloom and cheerlessness. כָּל־יָמָיו , "all his days," is the accusative of time, not the object of the verb. To eat in darkness is not a common metaphor for spending a gloomy life, but it is a very natural one, and has analogies in this book ( e . g . Ecclesiastes... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:18

Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely , etc. The accentuation is against this rendering, which, however, has the support of the Syriac and the Targum. The Septuagint gives, ἰδοὺ εἶδον ἐγὼ ἀγαθὸν ὅ ἐστι καλόν , "Behold, I have seen a good which is comely;" and it is best to translate, with Delitzsch and others, "Behold, what I have seen as good, what as beautiful, is this." My conclusion holds good. They who seek for traces of Greek influence in Koheleth find... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

Section 8. The inconveniences of wealth lead the writer back to his old conclusion, that man should make the best of life, and enjoy all the good that God gives with moderation and contentment. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:19

Every man also. The sentence is anacoluthic, like Ecclesiastes 3:13 , and may best be rendered, Also for every man to whom … this is a gift of God . Ginsburg connects the verse closely with the preceding one, supplying, "I have also seen that a man," etc. Whichever way we take the sentence, it comes to the same tiling, implying man's absolute dependence upon God's bounty. To whom God hath given riches and wealth . Before he can enjoy his possessions a man must first receive them from... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 5:17

Hath much sorrow ... - Rather, is very sad and hath pain and vexation. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 5:18

Rather, Behold what I have seen to be good, it is pleasant for a man to eat. Such thankful enjoyment is inculcated by the Law Deuteronomy 12:7, Deuteronomy 12:18. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 5:15-17

Ecclesiastes 5:15-17. As he came forth, &c., naked shall he return Into the womb, or belly of the earth, the common mother of all mankind. And shall take nothing of his labour This is another vanity. If his estate be neither lost nor kept to his hurt, yet when he dies he must leave it behind him, and cannot carry one handful of it into another world. And what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind For riches, which are empty and unsatisfying, uncertain and transitory; which... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 5:18

Ecclesiastes 5:18. Behold that which I have seen That is, learned by study and experience; it is good and comely Good, or comfortable to a man’s self, and comely, or amiable in the eyes of other men, as penuriousness is base and dishonourable; for one to enjoy the good of his labour Both for the constant supply of all the necessities of nature, and for the entertainment of his friends, and the relief of his poor neighbours; all the days of his life All the time God shall be pleased... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 5:19-20

Ecclesiastes 5:19-20. Every man also, &c. “And whosoever he be whom God hath blessed, not only with plenty of worldly goods, but also with such a noble and generous mind that he is not their slave, but truly master of them,” (so the Hebrew, השׂלישׂו signifies,) “being able to enjoy them innocently, and that with cheerfulness, and to delight in doing good to others with them; let him be very thankful to Almighty God for so great a happiness, and acknowledge it to be a singular gift of... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:8-20

Advice about money (5:8-6:12)Greed for money is a common social evil and the cause of much suffering. Because of such greed, government officials exploit poor farmers. Each official makes sure he takes as much money as he can, so that after he has passed some of it on to those above him who protect him, he has enough left for himself. As for the farmers, besides losing their profits to corrupt officials, they must also give some of their harvest as a tax to the king (8-9).Prosperity does not... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:17

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:18

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:19

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 5:17

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 5:18

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 5:15-17

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 5:18

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 5:19-20

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:8-20

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