Ecclesiastes9
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1For all this I laid to my heart, even to explore all this: that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God; whether it be love or hatred, man knoweth it not; all is before them.
2All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth and to him that sacrificeth not; as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.
3This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea also, the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
4For to him that is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
5For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
6As well their love, as their hatred and their envy, is perished long ago; neither have they any more a portion for ever in anything that is done under the sun.
7Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God hath already accepted thy works.
8Let thy garments be always white; and let not thy head lack oil.
9Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of thy life of vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all thy days of vanity: for that is thy portion in life, and in thy labor wherein thou laborest under the sun.
10Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, whither thou goest.
11I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
12For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, even so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
13I have also seen wisdom under the sun on this wise, and it seemed great unto me:
14There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it.
15Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
16Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
17The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.
18Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroyeth much good.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ecclesiastes 9.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Good and bad men fare alike as to this world. (1-3). All men must die, Their portion as to this life. (4-10). Disappointments common. (11,12) . Benefits of wisdom. (13-18).
vv1-3
We are not to think our searching into the word or works of God useless, because we cannot explain all difficulties. We may learn many things good for ourselves and useful to others. But man cannot always decide who are objects of God's special love, or under his wrath; and God will certainly put a difference between the precious and the vile, in the other world. The difference as to present happiness, arises from the inward supports and consolations the righteous enjoy, and the benefit they derive from varied trials and mercies. As far as the sons of men are left to themselves, their hearts are full of evil; and prosperity in sin, causes them even to set God at defiance by daring wickedness. Though, on this side death, the righteous and the wicked may often seem to fare alike, on the other side there will be a vast difference between them.
vv4-10
The most despicable living man's state, is preferable to that of the most noble who have died impenitent. Solomon exhorts the wise and pious to cheerful confidence in God, whatever their condition in life. The meanest morsel, coming from their Father's love, in answer to prayer, will have a peculiar relish. Not that we may set our hearts upon the delights of sense, but what God has given us we may use with wisdom. The joy here described, is the gladness of heart that springs from a sense of the Divine favour. This is the world of service, that to come is the world of recompence. All in their stations, may find some work to do. And above all, sinners have the salvation of their souls to seek after, believers have to prove their faith, adorn the gospel, glorify God, and serve their generation.
vv11-12
Men's success seldom equals their expectations. We must use means, but not trust to them: if we succeed, we must give God the praise; if crossed, we must submit to his will. Those who put off the great concerns of their souls, are caught in Satan's net, which he baits with some worldly object, for which they reject or neglect the gospel, and go on in sin till they suddenly fall into destruction.
Key Words
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
זֶה: the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
נָתַן: to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
לֵב: the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything
בּוּר: to bore, i.e. (figuratively) examine
צַדִּיק: just
חָכָם: wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful)
עֲבָד: a deed
יָד: a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
Cross References
Ecclesiastes 9White garments signify spiritual joy, purity, and the spotless righteousness of the redeemed.
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The redeemed arrayed in white robes, symbolizing victory and acceptance in God's presence.
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Christ's exhortation to work while it is day parallel's Solomon's call to work before the grave.
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Confirms that battle success does not belong to human strength, but is in God's hand.
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Delayed execution of judgment makes the hearts of men fully set on madness and evil.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The garment of praise and oil of joy, contrasting with mourning and a gloomy exterior.
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Warns the wise, mighty, and rich not to glory in human efforts, which are subject to providence.
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A historical parallel where a wise woman's counsel delivered a besieged city from destruction.
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Achan's individual sin brought ruin upon Israel, illustrating how one sinner destroyeth much good.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Though outward events are currently identical, God will ultimately make a distinction between good and bad.
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Contrasts the earthly hope of a tree sprouting again with the absolute finality of human death.
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The godly exhortation to find joy and contentment with the wife of one's youth.
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Committing our works to God's hand, as our plans and events are entirely under His control.
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Remembering our mortality teaches us to work diligently and apply our hearts to wisdom now.
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