Ecclesiastes 7:8-29 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:7-10

Solomon had often complained before of the oppressions which he saw under the sun, which gave occasion for many melancholy speculations and were a great discouragement to virtue and piety. Now here, I. He grants the temptation to be strong (Eccl. 7:7): Surely it is often too true that oppression makes a wise man mad. If a wise man be much and long oppressed, he is very apt to speak and act unlike himself, to lay the reins on the neck of his passions, and break out into indecent complaints... read more

Matthew Henry

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 7:8

Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof ,.... If the thing is good, other ways the end of it is worse; as the end of wickedness and wicked men, whose beginning is sweet, but the end bitter; yea, are the ways of death, Proverbs 5:4 ; and so the end of carnal professors and apostates, who begin in the Spirit, and end in the flesh, Galatians 3:3 ; but the end of good things, and of good men, is better than the beginning; as the end of Job was, both with respect to things... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:9

Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry ,.... With men, for every word that is said, or action done, that is not agreeable; encourage not, but repress, sudden angry emotions of the mind; be not quick of resentment, and at once express anger and displeasure; but be slow to wrath, for such a man is better than the mighty, James 1:19 , Proverbs 16:32 ; or with God, for his corrections and chastisements; so the Targum, "in the time that correction from heaven comes upon thee, do not hasten... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:10

Say not thou, what is the cause that the former days were better than these ?.... This is a common opinion, that in all ages prevails among men, that former times were better than present ones; that trade flourished more, and men got more wealth and riches, and lived in greater ease and plenty; and complain that their lot is cast in such hard times, and are ready to lay the blame upon the providence of God, and murmur at it, which they should not do; for thou dost not inquire wisely... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:11

Wisdom is good with an inheritance ,.... It is good of itself. Or, "is as good as an inheritance" F14 עם נחלה "aeque ac haereditas", Gejerus, Schmidt. , as it may be rendered; it is a portion of itself, especially spiritual and divine wisdom. The Targum interprets it, the wisdom of the law, or the knowledge of that; but much more excellent is the wisdom of the Gospel, the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom; the knowledge of which, in an experimental way, is preferable... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:12

For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence ,.... Or, a "shadow" of refreshment and protection, under which men sit with pleasure and safety; a man by his wisdom, and so by his money, is able to defend himself against the injuries and oppressions of others, and especially when both meet in one and the same man. Jarchi renders and interprets it, "he that is in the shadow of wisdom is in the shadow of money, for wisdom is the cause why riches come;' and so the Targum, "as a man... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:13

Consider the work of God ,.... This is dressed to those who thought the former days better than the present, and were ready to quarrel with the providence of God, Ecclesiastes 7:10 ; and are therefore advised to consider the work of God; not the work of creation, but of providence; which is the effect of divine sovereignty, and is conducted and directed according to the counsel of his will, and is always wisely done to answer the best ends and purposes: everything is beautiful in its... 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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:7-10

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:14

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