Ecclesiastes 5:11-20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:9-17

Solomon had shown the vanity of pleasure, gaiety, and fine works, of honour, power, and royal dignity; and there is many a covetous worldling that will agree with him, and speak as slightly as he does of these things; but money, he thinks, is a substantial thing, and if he can but have enough of that he is happy. This is the mistake which Solomon attacks, and attempts to rectify, in these verses; he shows that there is as much vanity in great riches, and the lust of the eye about them, as... read more

Matthew Henry

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 5:11

When goods increase, they are increased that eat them ,.... When a man's substance increases by trade, or otherwise, very often so it is that his family increases, and he has more mouths to feed, and backs to clothe; or his estate growing larger, if he lives suitably to it, he must keep more servants; and these, as they have but little work to do, are described by their eating, rather than by their working; and besides, such a growing man in the world has more friends and visitors that come... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:12

The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much ,.... Or "of a servant" F9 העבד του δουλου , Sept. "servi", Arab. "i.e. agricolae", Drusius, Rambachius; "qui par regi famuloque venis", Senec. Hercul. Fur. v. 1073. , who enjoys sleep equally as a king; a tiller of the ground, as Jarchi; who also interprets it of one that serves the Lord, as likewise the Targum; a beloved one of his, to whom he gives sleep, Psalm 127:2 . A refreshing sleep is always reckoned... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:13

There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun ,.... Or "an evil sickness" F13 רעה חולה "morbus malus", Tigurine version, Vatablus. . A sinful disease in the person with whom it is found, and very disagreeable to others to behold; it is enough to make one sick to see it; and what he is about to relate he himself was an eyewitness of: namely , riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt ; laid up in barns and granaries, as the fruits of the earth; or in chests and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:14

But those riches perish by evil travail ,.... Or, "by an evil business or affair" F14 בענין רע "occupatione, negotio, vel casu malo", Gejerus. . That is, such riches as are not well got, or are not used as they should be, these waste away and come to nothing; either by the owner's bad management, and misconduct in trade and business; or by fire, tempest, thieves, and robbers, and many other ways and means: these are very certain things; and there are various ways by which they make... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:15

As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came ,.... This may be understood either of the covetous rich man, or of his son; and that supposing what is before said should not be the case of either of them, but they should possess their substance as long as they live; yet, when they come to die, they will be stripped of them all; of their gold and silver, their plate and jewels, and rich household furniture; of their cattle and possessions, farms and estates,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:16

And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came , so shall he go ,.... This seems not to be an evil or vanity, distinct from the former; but the same repeated and confirmed, and expressed, if possible, in stronger terms, that a man is in all respects alike, when he goes out of the world, as when he came in. A man's birth is signified by "coming", that is, out of his mother's womb, and into the world; and which is a description of every man born into it, John 1:9 ; he is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:17

All his days also he eateth in darkness ,.... To all that has been said is added another evil, that attends such whose hearts are inordinately set on riches; that all their days, throughout the whole of their lives, they live a most uncomfortable life; for eating is here put for their whole manner of living: such not only eat coarse bread, and very mean food of any sort, but wear sordid apparel, and live in a poor cottage, in a very obscure and miserable manner. Aben Ezra understands it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:18

Behold that which I have seen ,.... Observed, considered and approved of, and which he recommended and excited attention to, and is as follows; it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink ; to make use of the creatures God has given for service in a free and liberal manner, without excess, and with moderation; and not deprive a man's self of those things he may lawfully partake of, and are necessary for him: to do this is good for himself, and for the health of his body; and is... read more

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