Ecclesiastes 7:14-29

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 7:14

In the day of prosperity be joyful ,.... Or, "in a good day" F17 ביום טובה "in die bono", Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus, Gejerus. . When things go well in the commonwealth, in a man's family, and with himself, health, peace, and plenty, are enjoyed, a man's circumstances are thriving and flourishing; it becomes him to be thankful to God, freely and cheerfully to enjoy what is bestowed on him, and do good with it: or, "be in good" F18 היה בטוב "esto in bono", Pagninus,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:15

All things have I seen in the days of my vanity ,.... Or, "all these things" F21 את כל "illa omnia", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Tigurine version, Gejerus; "omnia haec", Mercerus; "universa haec", Rambachius. . What goes before and follows after, the various changes men are subject unto, both good and bad; these he had made his observations upon, throughout the course of his life, which had been a vain one, as every man's is, full of evil and trouble; see Ecclesiastes... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:16

Be not righteous over much ,.... This is not meant of true and real righteousness, even moral righteousness, a man cannot be too holy or too righteous; but of a show and ostentation of righteousness, and of such who would be thought to be more righteous and holy than others, and therefore despise those who, as they imagine, do not come up to them; and are very rigid and censorious in their judgment of others, and very severe in their reproofs of them; and, that they may appear very righteous... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:17

Be not over much wicked ,.... Not that a man should be wicked at all; but some, observing that wicked men prolong their days in wickedness, are encouraged to go into greater lengths in sin than they have yet done, and give up themselves to all iniquity; and run into excess of not, into the grossest and most scandalous enormities. Some render it, "do not disturb" or "frighten thyself" F1 אל תרשע "ne paveas", Pagninus; "ne te occupes multum, aut distrahas te, sive inquietes", some in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:18

It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this ,.... This advice, as the Arabic version, in the several branches of it; neither to be over much righteous or wicked, and over much wise or foolish; to avoid the one and the other, to keep clear of extremes, and pursue the path that is safest; such advice as this it is right to lay hold on, embrace, and hold fast; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand ; from what follows concerning the fear of God; or "this and this" may be... 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

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