Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

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 5:18

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:19

Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth ,.... Which include the whole of a man's substance; all his estate, personal and real; and all his goods and possessions, movable and immovable, as gold, silver, cattle, fields, and farms; which are all the gift of God, by whatsoever means they may be acquired or possessed; and hath given him power ; or, "caused him to have dominion" F18 השליטו "eumque dominari eum fecerit", Tigurine version; "imperare fecit eum", Gejerus;... 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 5:18

Behold that which I have seen - This is the result of my observations and experience. God gives every man, in the course of his providence, the necessaries of life; and it is his will that he should thankfully use them. For it is his portion - What is requisite for him in the lower world; without them his life cannot subsist, and earthly blessings are as truly the portion of his body and animal life, as the salvation of God is the portion of his soul. 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

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

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

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