17 Therefore I hated H8130 life; H2416 because the work H4639 that is wrought H6213 under the sun H8121 is grievous H7451 unto me: for all is vanity H1892 and vexation H7469 of spirit. H7307
Then I looked H6437 on all the works H4639 that my hands H3027 had wrought, H6213 and on the labour H5999 that I had laboured H5998 to do: H6213 and, behold, all was vanity H1892 and vexation H7469 of spirit, H7307 and there was no profit H3504 under the sun. H8121
Wherefore I praised H7623 the dead H4191 which are already H3528 dead H4191 more than the living H2416 which are yet H5728 alive. H2416
For G1063 I am in a strait G4912 betwixt G1537 two, G1417 having G2192 a desire G1939 to G1519 depart, G360 and G2532 to be G1511 with G4862 Christ; G5547 which is far G4183 G3123 better: G2908 Nevertheless G1161 to abide G1961 in G1722 the flesh G4561 is more needful G316 for G1223 you. G5209 And G2532 having this G5124 confidence, G3982 I know G1492 that G3754 I shall abide G3306 and G2532 continue G4839 with you G5213 all G3956 for G1519 your G5216 furtherance G4297 and G2532 joy G5479 of faith; G4102
Why dost thou shew H7200 me iniquity, H205 and cause me to behold H5027 grievance? H5999 for spoiling H7701 and violence H2555 are before me: and there are that raise up H5375 strife H7379 and contention. H4066
And it came to pass, when the sun H8121 did arise, H2224 that God H430 prepared H4487 a vehement H2759 east H6921 wind; H7307 and the sun H8121 beat H5221 upon the head H7218 of Jonah, H3124 that he fainted, H5968 and wished H7592 in himself H5315 to die, H4191 and said, H559 It is better H2896 for me to die H4194 than to live. H2416
So the spirit H7307 lifted me up, H5375 and took me away, H3947 and I went H3212 in bitterness, H4751 in the heat H2534 of my spirit; H7307 but the hand H3027 of the LORD H3068 was strong H2388 upon me.
Cursed H779 be the day H3117 wherein I was born: H3205 let not the day H3117 wherein my mother H517 bare H3205 me be blessed. H1288 Cursed H779 be the man H376 who brought tidings H1319 to my father, H1 saying, H559 A man H2145 child H1121 is born H3205 unto thee; making him very H8055 glad. H8055 And let that man H376 be as the cities H5892 which the LORD H3068 overthrew, H2015 and repented H5162 not: and let him hear H8085 the cry H2201 in the morning, H1242 and the shouting H8643 at noontide; H6256 H6672 Because he slew H4191 me not from the womb; H7358 or that my mother H517 might have been my grave, H6913 and her womb H7358 to be always H5769 great H2030 with me. Wherefore came I forth H3318 out of the womb H7358 to see H7200 labour H5999 and sorrow, H3015 that my days H3117 should be consumed H3615 with shame? H1322
And if thou deal H6213 thus with me, kill H2026 me, I pray thee, out of hand, H2026 if I have found H4672 favour H2580 in thy sight; H5869 and let me not see H7200 my wretchedness. H7451
I have seen H7200 all the works H4639 that are done H6213 under the sun; H8121 and, behold, all is vanity H1892 and vexation H7469 of spirit. H7307
So that my soul H5315 chooseth H977 strangling, H4267 and death H4194 rather than my life. H6106 I loathe H3988 it; I would not live H2421 alway: H5769 let me alone; H2308 for my days H3117 are vanity. H1892
Wherefore is light H216 given H5414 to him that is in misery, H6001 and life H2416 unto the bitter H4751 in soul; H5315 Which long H2442 for death, H4194 but it cometh not; and dig H2658 for it more than for hid treasures; H4301 Which rejoice H8056 exceedingly, H1524 and are glad, H7797 when they can find H4672 the grave? H6913
But he himself went H1980 a day's H3117 journey H1870 into the wilderness, H4057 and came H935 and sat down H3427 under a H259 juniper tree: H7574 and he requested H7592 for himself H5315 that he might die; H4191 and said, H559 It is enough; H7227 now, O LORD, H3068 take away H3947 my life; H5315 for I am not better H2896 than my fathers. H1
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2
Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 2
Solomon having pronounced all vanity, and particularly knowledge and learning, which he was so far from giving himself joy of that he found the increase of it did but increase his sorrow, in this chapter he goes on to show what reason he has to be tired of this world, and with what little reason most men are fond of it.
Ecc 2:1-11
Solomon here, in pursuit of the summum bonum-the felicity of man, adjourns out of his study, his library, his elaboratory, his council-chamber, where he had in vain sought for it, into the park and the playhouse, his garden and his summer-house; he exchanges the company of the philosophers and grave senators for that of the wits and gallants, and the beaux-esprits, of his court, to try if he could find true satisfaction and happiness among them. Here he takes a great step downward, from the noble pleasures of the intellect to the brutal ones of sense; yet, if he resolve to make a thorough trial, he must knock at this door, because here a great part of mankind imagine they have found that which he was in quest of.
Ecc 2:12-16
Solomon having tried what satisfaction was to be had in learning first, and then in the pleasures of sense, and having also put both together, here compares them one with another and passes a judgment upon them.
Ecc 2:17-26
Business is a thing that wise men have pleasure in. They are in their element when they are in their business, and complain if they be out of business. They may sometimes be tired with their business, but they are not weary of it, nor willing to leave it off. Here therefore one would expect to have found the good that men should do, but Solomon tried this too; after a contemplative life and a voluptuous life, he betook himself to an active life, and found no more satisfaction in it than in the other; still it is all vanity and vexation of spirit, of which he gives an account in these verses, where observe,