Ecclesiastes 9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9

Solomon, in this chapter, for a further proof of the vanity of this world, gives us four observations which he had made upon a survey of the state of the children of men in it:?I. He observed that commonly as to outward things, good and bad men fare much alike, Eccl. 9:1-3. II. That death puts a final period to all our employments and enjoyments in this world (Eccl. 9:4-6), whence he infers that it is our wisdom to enjoy the comforts of life and mind the business of life, while it lasts, Eccl.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:1-3

It has been observed concerning those who have pretended to search for the philosophers? stone that, though they could never find what they sought for, yet in the search they have hit upon many other useful discoveries and experiments. Thus Solomon, when, in the close of the foregoing chapter, he applied his heart to know the work of God, and took a great deal of pains to search into it, though he despaired of finding it out, yet he found out that which abundantly recompensed him for the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:4-10

Solomon, in a fret, had praised the dead more than the living (Eccl. 4:2); but here, considering the advantages of life to prepare for death and make sure the hope of a better life, he seems to be of another mind. I. He shows the advantages which the living have above those that are dead, Eccl. 9:4-6. 1. While there is life there is hope. Dum spiro, spero?While I breathe, I hope. It is the privilege of the living that they are joined to the living, in relation, commerce, and conversation, and,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:11-12

The preacher here, for a further proof of the vanity of the world, and to convince us that all our works are in the hand of God, and not in our 4563 own hand, shows the uncertainty and contingency of future events, and how often they contradict the prospects we have of them. He had exhorted us (Eccl. 9:10) to do what we have to do with all our might; but here he reminds us that, when we have done all, we must leave the issue with God, and not be confident of the success. I. We are often... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:13-18

Solomon still recommends wisdom to us as necessary to the preserving of our peace and the perfecting of our business, notwithstanding the vanities and crosses which human affairs are subject to. He had said (Eccl. 9:11), Bread is not always to the wise; yet he would not therefore be thought either to disparage, or to discourage, wisdom, no, he still retains his principle, that wisdom excels folly as much as light excels darkness (Eccl. 2:13), and we ought to love and embrace it, and be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9

INTRODUCTION TO ECCLESIASTES 9 Though the wise man, with all his wisdom, search, and labour, could not find out the causes and reasons of divine Providence, in the branches and methods of it; yet some things he did find out, and observe, in making this inquiry, and which he declares; as that good and wise men, more especially their persons and their affairs, were in the hand of God, under his guidance, government, and direction; and that an interest in his love and hatred was not to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:1

For all this I considered in mine heart ,.... What goes before, in the latter end of the preceding chapter, concerning the various providences of God, the difficulty of finding out the reasons of them, and the fruitlessness of attempting it; and also what follows, the work of Providence: Solomon gave his mind unto, attended it with great application, and strictly considered and examined it, in order to find it out, but could not; and if he could not, no other man could. And he had a good... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:2

All things come alike to all ,.... That is, all outward things in this life, good and bad men share in alike; which proves that neither love nor hatred can be known by them: so the emperor Mark Antonine, in speaking of life and death, of honour and dishonour, of pain and pleasure, riches and poverty, says F19 De scipso, l. 2. c. 11. , all these things happen alike to good men and bad men; there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked ; the same prosperous ones happen to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:3

This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all ,.... A very great evil, a very sore one, the worst of evils. Not an evil, as the providence of God is concerned with it, who does no evil; nor is there any unrighteousness in him; he is righteous in all his ways: but this is an evil, and distressing thing, to the minds of good men; see Psalm 73:2 ; and is what bad men make an ill use of, to harden themselves in sin, and to despise religion... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:4

For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope ,.... That is, who is among the living, is one of them, and, as long as he is, there is hope, if his circumstances are mean, and he is poor and afflicted, that it may be better with him in time; see Job 14:7 ; or of his being a good man, though now wicked; of his being called and converted, as some are at the eleventh hour, even on a death bed; and especially there is a hope of men, if they are under the means of grace, seeing... read more

Group of Brands