7 For he knoweth H3045 not that which shall be: for who can tell H5046 him when it shall be?
For who knoweth H3045 what is good H2896 for man H120 in this life, H2416 all H4557 the days H3117 of his vain H1892 life H2416 which he spendeth H6213 as a shadow? H6738 for who can tell H5046 a man H120 what shall be after H310 him under the sun? H8121
For man H120 also knoweth H3045 not his time: H6256 as the fishes H1709 that are taken H270 in an evil H7451 net, H4685 and as the birds H6833 that are caught H270 in the snare; H6341 so H1992 are the sons H1121 of men H120 snared H3369 in an evil H7451 time, H6256 when it falleth H5307 suddenly H6597 upon them.
A fool H5530 also is full H7235 of words: H1697 a man H120 cannot tell H3045 what shall be; and what shall be after H310 him, who can tell H5046 him?
Therefore G1223 G5124 be G1096 ye G5210 also G2532 ready: G2092 for G3754 in such G3739 an hour G5610 as ye think G1380 not G3756 the Son G5207 of man G444 cometh. G2064
The lord G2962 of that G1565 servant G1401 shall come G2240 in G1722 a day G2250 when G3739 he looketh G4328 not G3756 for him, and G2532 in G1722 an hour G5610 that G3739 he is G1097 not G3756 aware of, G1097
And G1161 at midnight G3319 G3571 there was a cry G2906 made, G1096 Behold, G2400 the bridegroom G3566 cometh; G2064 go ye out G1831 to G1519 meet G529 him. G846 Then G5119 all G3956 those G1565 virgins G3933 arose, G1453 and G2532 trimmed G2885 their G846 lamps. G2985 And G1161 the foolish G3474 said G2036 unto the wise, G5429 Give G1325 us G2254 of G1537 your G5216 oil; G1637 for G3754 our G2257 lamps G2985 are gone out. G4570 But G1161 the wise G5429 answered, G611 saying, G3004 Not so; lest G3379 there be G714 not G3756 enough G714 for us G2254 and G2532 you: G5213 but G1161 go ye G4198 rather G3123 to them G4314 that sell, G4453 and G2532 buy G59 for yourselves. G1438 And G1161 while they G846 went G565 to buy, G59 the bridegroom G3566 came; G2064 and G2532 they that were ready G2092 went in G1525 with G3326 him G846 to G1519 the marriage: G1062 and G2532 the door G2374 was shut. G2808 Afterward G1161 G5305 came G2064 also G2532 the other G3062 virgins, G3933 saying, G3004 Lord, G2962 Lord, G2962 open G455 to us. G2254 But G1161 he answered G611 and said, G2036 Verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 I know G1492 you G5209 not. G3756 Watch G1127 therefore, G3767 for G3754 ye know G1492 neither G3756 the day G2250 nor G3761 the hour G5610 wherein G1722 G3739 the Son G5207 of man G444 cometh. G2064
But G1161 of G4012 the times G5550 and G2532 the seasons, G2540 brethren, G80 ye have G2192 no G3756 need G5532 that I write G1125 unto you. G5213 For G1063 yourselves G846 know G1492 perfectly G199 that G3754 the day G2250 of the Lord G2962 so G3779 cometh G2064 as G5613 a thief G2812 in G1722 the night. G3571 For G1063 when G3752 they shall say, G3004 Peace G1515 and G2532 safety; G803 then G5119 sudden G160 destruction G3639 cometh upon G2186 them, G846 as G5618 travail G5604 upon G1722 a woman with child; G1064 G2192 and G2532 they shall G1628 not G3364 escape. G1628
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Ecclesiastes 8
Commentary on Ecclesiastes 8 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 8
Solomon, in this chapter, comes to recommend wisdom to us as the most powerful antidote against both the temptations and vexations that arise from the vanity of the world. Here is,
Ecc 8:1-5
Here is,
Ecc 8:6-8
Solomon had said (v. 5) that a wise man's heart discerns time and judgment, that is, a man's wisdom will go a great way, by the blessing of God, in moral prognostications; but here he shows that few have that wisdom, and that even the wisest may yet be surprised by a calamity which they had not any foresight of, and therefore it is our wisdom to expect and prepare for sudden changes. Observe,
Ecc 8:9-13
Solomon, in the beginning of the chapter, had warned us against having any thing to do with seditious subjects; here, in these verses, he encourages us, in reference to the mischief of tyrannical and oppressive rulers, such as he had complained of before, ch. 3:16; 4:1.
Ecc 8:14-17
Wise and good men have, of old, been perplexed with this difficulty, how the prosperity of the wicked and the troubles of the righteous can be reconciled with the holiness and goodness of the God that governs the world. Concerning this Solomon here gives us his advice.