Ecclesiastes 7:19-24

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:11-22

Solomon, in these verses, recommends wisdom to us as the best antidote against those distempers of mind which we are liable to, by reason of the vanity and vexation of spirit that there are in the things of this world. Here are some of the praises and the precepts of wisdom. I. The praises of wisdom. Many things are here said in its commendation, to engage us to get and retain wisdom. 1. Wisdom is necessary to the right managing and improving of our worldly possessions: Wisdom is good with an... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:23-29

Solomon had hitherto been proving the vanity of the world and its utter insufficiency to make men happy; now here he comes to show the vileness of sin, and its certain tendency to make men miserable; and this, as the former, he proves from his own experience, and it was a dear-bought experience. He is here, more than any where in all this book, putting on the habit of a penitent. He reviews what he had been discoursing of already, and tells us that what he had said was what he knew and was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:19

Wisdom strengtheneth the wise ,.... Against such extremes as before mentioned; it is a guard about him, as well as a guide unto him; it is a defence unto him, as before observed, Ecclesiastes 7:12 ; and is better than strength of body, or weapons of war, Ecclesiastes 9:16 ; and a wise man does greater things by it than a strong man with them, and is safer with it than he can be by them. Some understand this of Christ, the Wisdom of God, without whom a good man can do nothing, but all... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:20

For there is not a just man upon earth ,.... Or "although", or "notwithstanding" F4 כי "quamvis", Junius & Tremelllus, Amama, so Broughton; "attamen", Grotius. , wisdom is so beneficial, and guards and strengthens a good man, yet no man has such a share of it as to live without sin; there was not then one on earth, there never had been, one, nor never would be, nor has been, excepting the man Christ Jesus; who indeed, as man, was perfectly just, while here on earth, and went... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:21

Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken ,.... Seeing so it is, that imperfection attends the best of men, no man is wise at all times, foolish words and unguarded expressions will sometimes drop from him, which it is better to take no notice of; they should not be strictly attended to, and closely examined, since they will not bear it. A man should not listen to everything that is said of himself or others; he should not curiously inquire what men say of him; and what he himself... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:22

For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth ,.... Or "thy conscience", as the Vulgate Latin version, which is as a thousand witnesses; which, if a man attends to, he will be convinced of his own faults, failings, and infirmities, he is frequently in the commission of. Particularly, that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others ; either in heart, or with the tongue; thought ill of them, wished ill to them; spoke contemptibly of them, reviled and reproached them; called them by bad names,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:23

All this have I proved by wisdom ,.... Referring either to all that he had been discoursing of hitherto in this book, concerning the vanity of natural wisdom and knowledge, of pleasure, power, and riches; or to the several useful instructions given in this chapter, particularly concerning patiently bearing everything from the hands of God or men, Ecclesiastes 7:8 . This, by the help and use of that wisdom which God had given him, he had made trial of, and found it to be right, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:24

That which is far off ,.... Or, "far off is that which has been" F7 רחוק מה שהיה "remotum (est) illud quod fuit", Montanus, Mercerus, Vatablus, Drusius, Gejerus. . That which has been done by God already, in creation and providence, is out of the reach of men, is far from their understandings wholly to comprehend or account for; and likewise that which is past with men, what has been done in former ages, the history of past times, is very difficult to come at: or rather,... 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

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