Ecclesiastes 5:20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

Solomon, from the vanity of riches hoarded up, here infers that the best course we can take is to use well what we have, to serve God with it, to do good with it, and take the comfort of it to ourselves and our families; this he had pressed before, Eccl. 2:24; 3:22. Observe, 1. What it is that is here recommended to us, not to indulge the appetites of the flesh, or to take up with present pleasures or profits for our portion, but soberly and moderately to make use of what Providence has... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:20

For he shall not much remember the days of his life ,.... Be they more or fewer, as Jarchi: he will not think life long and tedious; nor dwell upon, and distress himself with, the troubles he has met with, or is likely to meet with; but, being content with the good things God has given him, and freely and cheerfully enjoying them, he passes away his time delightfully and pleasantly. Some, as Aben Ezra observes, and which he approves of, and is agreeably to the accents, render the words, "if... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 5:20

For he shall not much remember - The person who acts in this way, extracts all the good requisite from life. He passes through things temporal so as not to lose those that are eternal: - "Calm and serene, the road of life to him, Or long or short, rugged or smooth, with thorns O'erspread, or gay with flowers, is but a road. Such fare as offers grateful he accepts, And smiling to his native home proceeds." C. 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 5:20

For he shall not much remember the days of his life . The man who has learned the lesson of calm enjoyment does not much concern himself with the shortness, uncertainty, or possible trouble of life. He carries out the counsel of Christ, "Be not anxious for the morrow, for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" ( Matthew 6:34 ). Ginsburg gives an entirely opposite rendering to the clause, "He should remember that the days of his life are not... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 5:20

The days will pass smoothly and pleasantly, while he lives in the consciousness of God’s favor.Answereth him - i. e., grants his prayers. 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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 5:20

answereth = causeth [things] to respond, as in Hosea 2:21 , Hosea 2:22 . See note on Ecclesiastes 10:19 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ecclesiastes 5:19-20

Ecclesiastes 5:19-20. Every man also to whom, &c.— And indeed any man, to whom God, &c. (for this very thing is certainly a gift of God) Ecc 5:20 will not much remember the days of his life. Solomon means to say, that time floweth unobserved by men who enjoy a constant prosperity. Now this, together with the pious reflection, that God is the author of such temporal blessings, is the very sense put by the LXX upon Solomon's words, Because God occupieth or taketh him in, or with the joy... read more

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