Ecclesiastes 9

Ecclesiastes 9:1

I Considered in my heart] Heb. I gave, or set to my heart.

by all that is before them] Man knoweth not by prosperity or adversity whom God doth favour or hate, for he sendeth them as well to the wicked as to the godly, chap. 8. 14.

Ecclesiastes 9:2

All things come alike to all] Psal. 73. 3, 12, 13. Malachi 3:15.

Ecclesiastes 9:3

among] Or, above.

there is one event unto all] In outward things, as riches and poverty, sicknesse and health, there is no difference between the godly and the wicked.

yea, also] Or, that also.

madnesse] Heb. madnesses: that is, all kinde of madnesse.

after that they go to the dead] They die like other men.

Ecclesiastes 9:4

For to him that is joyned to all the living, there is hope] Or, Surely. See Notes on chap. 7. 20.

Ecclesiastes 9:6

now] Heb. already.

for ever] Or, of the world.

Ecclesiastes 9:7

eat thy bread with joy] Eat of the fruit of thy labours with comfort, chap. 3. 22.

for] Or, when.

now accepteth] Heb. hath already accepted.

Ecclesiastes 9:8

Let thy garments be always white] Rejoyce constantly; as, pray without ceasing, 1 Thess. 5. 17. This excludes not humiliation in times of affliction.

ointment] Matthew 6:17.

Ecclesiastes 9:9

Live joyfully] Heb. see or enjoy life.

Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest] Hereby it appears, that Solomon gives counsell to take lawfull content in outward things; and not in the person of an Epicure, exhorting others to unlawfull pleasures; for then would e not have said, Rejoyce with thy wife; but, as elsewhere, Stollen waters are sweet, Proverbs 9:17. See Proverbs 5:18.

for that is thy portion in this life] Chap. 2. 24. and 3. 13. and 5. 18.

Ecclesiastes 9:11

the race is not to the swift] Wisedom and strength cannot always procure worldly comforts: but sometimes they are so disposed by God, as we can give no reason of it: neither can they enable us to foresee or prevent evil, v. 12.

Ecclesiastes 9:12

snare] Luke 21. 35.

snared in an evil time] Proverbs 29:6.

Ecclesiastes 9:13

This wisedom have I seen also under the sun] As wisedom sometimes cannot produce good effects in outward things, so, at other times, it works above all humane apprehension and power.

Ecclesiastes 9:15

there was found in it a poor wise man] An instance of wisedom, in a poor man, prevailing against power, yet not respected by those that received benefit by it.

Ecclesiastes 9:16

Then said I, Wisedom is better then strength] Proverbs 21:22. Chap. 7. 19.

Ecclesiastes 9:17

more then the cry of him that ruleth among fools] Wise men hearken more quietly to the counsell of a poor man that is understanding, then fools that clamour hearken to a king.