Ecclesiastes 1

Ecclesiastes 1:1

OF the Preacher] Solomon is here called a Preacher, or one that assembleth the people, because he teacheth the true knowledge of God, and how men ought to passe their life in this transitory world.

Ecclesiastes 1:2

Vanitie of vanities, saith he preacher, vanitie of vanities, all is vanitie.] Psal. 39. 5, 6. and 62. 9. and 144. 4. chap. 12. 8.

Vanitie] He condemneth the opinion of all men that set felicity in any thing but in God alone, seeing that in this world all things are as vanitie, and nothing.

of vanities] That is, most vain, having no solidity of being, continuance of condition, true profit to us, nor means to bring us to happinesse, but containing matter of unprofitable travell, and false deceit for us.

all is vanitie] All these creatures and courses under the sun, verse 3.

Ecclesiastes 1:3

What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?] Chap. 2. 22. and 3. 9.

What] He had pronounced all vanity, verse 2. Now he convinceth the readers by the testimony of their own consciences: Tell ye what profit is in them, if ye can.

profit] What fruit remains to you of your labours You may lose all before ye die; if not, ye must leave all to the generation following, verse 4 He doth not forbid us to labour, but to look for felicity from our labours.

which he taketh under the sun] Here below. Also he shews the benefit of the light, for most works are done in the day.

Ecclesiastes 1:4

but the earth abideth for ever] Psalms 104:5. and Psalms 119:90. The earth remaineth to the last day, & then it shall be changed.

Ecclesiastes 1:5

The sun also ariseth] It remains, and runs his course, when we are gone.

and hasteth to his place] Heb. panteth. Like one that runs himself out of breath, to come to his journies end.

Ecclesiastes 1:6

The winde goeth] Or, It goeth.

The winde goeth toward the south] Or, It goeth: that is, the sun. For such is the suns course.

Ecclesiastes 1:7

All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full] Job 38:10. Psal. 104. 8, 9.

thither they return again] So that as the sea is not full, so the rivers are never empty.

return again] Heb. return to go.

Ecclesiastes 1:8

the eye is not satisfied with seeing] The eye may be wearied with looking on divers objects, but it still desires new ones, and the ear likewise novelties, Acts 17:21.

Ecclesiastes 1:9

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be] Chap. 3. 15.

it is that which shall be] There is no new invention to bring happinesse. The kindes of things are the same, though the particulars differ. Shew any new thing if ye can. Some former age hath had the like, verse 10. onely ye think things new, because former things are forgotten, as yours will be to them that come after, verse 11.

Ecclesiastes 1:11

that are to come, with those] Or, that are, with those men.

Ecclesiastes 1:12

I the preacher was king over Israel] He proveth, That if any could attain to felicity in this world, by labour and study, he should have obtained it, because he had gifts and aids thereunto, above all others.

Ecclesiastes 1:13

this sore travel hath God given to the sons of man] Man by nature hath a desire to know, and yet is not able to come to the perfection of knowledge, which is the punishment of sin to humble man, and to teach him to depend onely upon God, and breeds disquiet and discontent.

to be exercised therewith] Or, to afflict them.

Ecclesiastes 1:14

and vexation of spirit] They not onely do not satifie the minde, as verse 2. but also torment it, because it cannot comprehend them.

Ecclesiastes 1:15

That which is crooked cannot be made straight] Chap. 7. 13. Man is not able by all his diligence to cause things to go otherwise then they do.

that which is wanting] Heb. defect.

that which is wanting, cannot be numbred] Found full in number.

Ecclesiastes 1:16

I am come to great estate, and have gotten more] Or, I have magnified and gotten: or, I have gotten greater and more.

more wisdom then all they that have been before me in Jerusalem] 1 Kings 4. 30. and 10. 7, 23.

had great experience] Heb. had seen much.

Ecclesiastes 1:17

And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madnesse and folly] Chap. 2. 12. and 7. 25.

to know madnesse and folly] Vain things which men of the world run most madly and foolishly after.

madnesse] Heb. madnesses: That is, all kindes of madnesse.

Ecclesiastes 1:18

For in much wisdom is much grief] Wisdom cannot be obtained without great pain of body and minde, for when a man hath attained to the highest, yet is his minde never fully content: therefore, in this world is no true felicity.