Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

All this I tested by wisdom, saying, “I resolve to be wise.” But it was beyond me.

“All this--resuming the "all" in Ec 7:15; Ec 7:15-22 is therefore the fruit of his dearly bought experience in the days of his "vanity." I will be wise--I tried to "be wise," independently of God.”

I directed my mind to understand, to explore, to search out wisdom and explanations, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the folly of madness.

“2:12, where "folly" is put without "wickedness" prefixed. reason--rather, "the right estimation" of things. HOLDEN translates also "foolishness (that is, sinful folly, answering to 'wickedness' in the parallel) of madness" (that is, of man's mad pursuits).”

Only this have I found: I have discovered that God made men upright, but they have sought out many schemes.”

“Among man's "inventions" was the one especially referred to in Ec 7:26, the bitter fruits of which Solomon experienced, the breaking of God's primeval marriage law, joining one man to "one" woman (Mt 19:4, 5, 6).”

As no man has power over the wind to contain it, so no one has authority over his day of death.

“But in that war (death) there is no exemption. those . . . given to--literally, the master of it. Wickedness can get money for the sinner, but cannot deliver him from the death, temporal and eternal, which is its penalty (Isa 28:15, 18).”

Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in…

“He says this, lest the sinner should abuse the statement (Ec 7:15), "A wicked man prolongeth his life." before him--literally, "at His presence"; reverently serve Him, realizing His continual presence.”

There is a futility that is done on the earth: There are righteous men who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked men who get…

“The objector adds, as Solomon had said, that the worldling's pursuits are "vanity" (Ec 8:10), "I say (not 'said') this also is vanity. Then I commend mirth," &c. [HOLDEN].”

It is the same for all: There is a common fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for…

“However, they may be explained as Solomon's language. He repeats the sentiment already implied in Ec 2:14; 8:14. one event--not eternally; but death is common to all. good--morally. clean--ceremonially. sacrificeth--alike to Josiah who sacrificed to God, and to Ahab who made sacrifice to Him cease.”

Their love, their hate, and their envy have already vanished, and they will never again have a share in all that is done under the sun.

“Man's love and hatred can no longer be exercised for good or evil in the same way as here; but the fruits of them remain. What he is at death he remains for ever.”

I saw something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; neither is the bread to the wise, nor the wealth…

“This verse qualifies the sentiment, Ec 9:7-9. Earthly "enjoyments," however lawful in their place (Ec 3:1), are to give way when any work to be done for God requires it.”

For surely no man knows his time: Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds trapped in a snare, so men are ensnared in an evil time that suddenly…

“Hence the danger of delay in doing the work of God, as one knows not when his opportunity will end (Ec 9:10). evil net--fatal to them. The unexpected suddenness of the capture is the point of comparison.”

I have also seen this wisdom under the sun, and it was great to me:

“Rather, "I have seen wisdom of this kind also," that is, exhibited in the way which is described in what follows [MAURER]. (2Sa 20:16-22). bulwarks--military works of besiegers.”

And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”

“Resuming the sentiment (Ec 7:19; 24:5). poor man's wisdom is despised--not the poor man mentioned in Ec 9:15; for his wisdom could not have saved the city, had "his words not been heard"; but poor men in general.”

The calm words of the wise are heeded over the shouts of a ruler among fools.

“The words of wise, &c.--Though generally the poor wise man is not heard (Ec 9:16), yet "the words of wise men, when heard in quiet (when calmly given heed to, as in Ec 9:15), are more serviceable than," &c. ruleth--as the "great king" (Ec 9:14).”

As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

“So the higher a man's religious character is, the more hurt is caused by a sinful folly in him. Bad savor is endurable in oil, but not in what professes to be, and is compounded by the perfumer ("apothecary") for, fragrance.”

A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.

“(Ec 2:14). right--The right hand is more expert than the left. The godly wise is more on his guard than the foolish sinner, though at times he slip. Better a diamond with a flaw, than a pebble without one.”

He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.

“Breaking through the wise fences of their throne, they suffer unexpectedly themselves; as when one is stung by a serpent lurking in the stones of his neighbor's garden wall (Ps 80:12), which he maliciously pulls down (Am 5:19).”

The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.

“Cuts out from the quarry [MAURER]. endangered--by the splinters, or by the head of the hatchet, flying back on himself. Pithy aphorisms are common in the East. The sense is: Violations of true wisdom recoil on the perpetrators.”

If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.

“More force has then to be used in both cases; but "force" without judgment "endangers" one's self. Translate, "If one hath blunted his iron" [MAURER].”

If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.

“A "serpent will bite" if "enchantment" is not used; "and a babbling calumniator is no better." Therefore, as one may escape a serpent by charms (Ps 58:4, 5), so one may escape the sting of a calumniator by discretion (Ec 10:12), [HOLDEN].”

The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.

“MAURER connects Ec 10:15 with the following verses. The labor (vexation) caused by the foolish (injurious princes, Ec 10:4-7) harasses him who "knows not how to go to the city," to ingratiate himself with them there. English Version is simpler.”

Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.

“Ec 11:2 shows that charity is here inculcated. bread--bread corn. As in the Lord's prayer, all things needful for the body and soul. Solomon reverts to the sentiment (Ec 9:10).”

He who watches the wind will fail to sow, and he who observes the clouds will fail to reap.

“Therefore sow thy charity in faith, without hesitancy or speculation as to results, because they may not seem promising (Ec 9:10). So in Ec 11:1, man is told to "cast his bread corn" on the seemingly unpromising "waters" (Ps 126:5, 6).”

So if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many.

“But while man thankfully enjoys life, "let him remember" it will not last for ever. The "many days of darkness," that is, the unseen world (Job 10:21, 22; Ps 88:12), also days of "evil" in this world (Ec 11:2), are coming; therefore sow the good…”

before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened, and the clouds return after the rain,

“Illustrating "the evil days" (Jer 13:16). "Light," "sun," &c., express prosperity; "darkness," pain and calamity (Isa 13:10; 30:26). clouds . . . after . . .”

when men fear the heights and dangers of the road, when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper loses its spring, and the caper berry shrivels—for then man goes to his…

“Hence arose the fable, that Tithonus in very old age was changed into a grasshopper [PARKHURST].”