8 Let thy garments H899 be always H6256 white; H3836 and let thy head H7218 lack H2637 no ointment. H8081
Thou preparest H6186 a table H7979 before H6440 me in the presence of mine enemies: H6887 thou anointest H1878 my head H7218 with oil; H8081 my cup H3563 runneth over. H7310
Wash H7364 thyself therefore, and anoint H5480 thee, and put H7760 thy raiment H8071 upon thee, and get thee down H3381 to the floor: H1637 but make not thyself known H3045 unto the man, H376 until he shall have done H3615 eating H398 and drinking. H8354
And Joab H3097 sent H7971 to Tekoah, H8620 and fetched H3947 thence a wise H2450 woman, H802 and said H559 unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, H56 and put on H3847 now mourning H60 apparel, H899 and anoint H5480 not thyself with oil, H8081 but be as a woman H802 that had a long H7227 time H3117 mourned H56 for the dead: H4191
And Mephibosheth H4648 the son H1121 of Saul H7586 came down H3381 to meet H7125 the king, H4428 and had neither H3808 dressed H6213 his feet, H7272 nor trimmed H6213 his beard, H8222 nor washed H3526 his clothes, H899 from the day H3117 the king H4428 departed H3212 until the day H3117 he came H935 again in peace. H7965
And Mordecai H4782 went out H3318 from the presence H6440 of the king H4428 in royal H4438 apparel H3830 of blue H8504 and white, H2353 and with a great H1419 crown H5850 of gold, H2091 and with a garment H8509 of fine linen H948 and purple: H713 and the city H5892 of Shushan H7800 rejoiced H6670 and was glad. H8056
That drink H8354 wine H3196 in bowls, H4219 and anoint H4886 themselves with the chief H7225 ointments: H8081 but they are not grieved H2470 for the affliction H7667 of Joseph. H3130
Thou hast G2192 a few G3641 names G3686 even G2532 in G1722 Sardis G4554 which G3739 have G3435 not G3756 defiled G3435 their G846 garments; G2440 and G2532 they shall walk G4043 with G3326 me G1700 in G1722 white: G3022 for G3754 they are G1526 worthy. G514 He that overcometh, G3528 the same G3778 shall be clothed G4016 in G1722 white G3022 raiment; G2440 and G2532 I will G1813 not G3364 blot out G1813 his G846 name G3686 out of G1537 the book G976 of life, G2222 but G2532 I will confess G1843 his G846 name G3686 before G1799 my G3450 Father, G3962 and G2532 before G1799 his G846 angels. G32
After G3326 this G5023 I beheld, G1492 and, G2532 lo, G2400 a great G4183 multitude, G3793 which G3739 no man G3762 could G1410 number, G705 G846 of G1537 all G3956 nations, G1484 and G2532 kindreds, G5443 and G2532 people, G2992 and G2532 tongues, G1100 stood G2476 before G1799 the throne, G2362 and G2532 before G1799 the Lamb, G721 clothed G4016 with white G3022 robes, G4749 and G2532 palms G5404 in G1722 their G846 hands; G5495
And G2532 one G1520 of G1537 the elders G4245 answered, G611 saying G3004 unto me, G3427 What G5101 are G1526 these G3778 which G3588 are arrayed in G4016 white G3022 robes? G4749 and G2532 whence G4159 came they? G2064 And G2532 I said G2046 unto him, G846 Sir, G2962 thou G4771 knowest. G1492 And G2532 he said G2036 to me, G3427 These G3778 are they G1526 which came G2064 out of G1537 great G3173 tribulation, G2347 and G2532 have washed G4150 their G846 robes, G4749 and G2532 made G3021 them G4749 G846 white G3021 in G1722 the blood G129 of the Lamb. G721
Behold, G2400 I come G2064 as G5613 a thief. G2812 Blessed G3107 is he that watcheth, G1127 and G2532 keepeth G5083 his G846 garments, G2440 lest G3363 he walk G4043 naked, G1131 and G2532 they see G991 his G846 shame. G808
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Ecclesiastes 9
Commentary on Ecclesiastes 9 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 9
Solomon, in this chapter, for a further proof of the vanity of this world, gives us four observations which he had made upon a survey of the state of the children of men in it:-
Ecc 9:1-3
It has been observed concerning those who have pretended to search for the philosophers' stone that, though they could never find what they sought for, yet in the search they have hit upon many other useful discoveries and experiments. Thus Solomon, when, in the close of the foregoing chapter, he applied his heart to know the work of God, and took a great deal of pains to search into it, though he despaired of finding it out, yet he found out that which abundantly recompensed him for the search, and gave him some satisfaction, which he here gives us; for therefore he considered all this in his heart, and weighed it deliberately, that he might declare it for the good of others. Note, What we are to declare we should first consider; think twice before we speak once; and what we have considered we should then declare. I believed, therefore have I spoken.
The great difficulty which Solomon met with in studying the book of providence was the little difference that is made between good men and bad in the distribution of comforts and crosses, and the disposal of events. This has perplexed the minds of many wise and contemplative men. Solomon discourses of it in these verses, and, though he does not undertake to find out this work of God, yet he says that which may prevent its being a stumbling-block to us.
Ecc 9:4-10
Solomon, in a fret, had praised the dead more than the living (ch. 4:2); but here, considering the advantages of life to prepare for death and make sure the hope of a better life, he seems to be of another mind.
Ecc 9:11-12
The preacher here, for a further proof of the vanity of the world, and to convince us that all our works are in the hand of God, and not in our own hand, shows the uncertainty and contingency of future events, and how often they contradict the prospects we have of them. He had exhorted us (v. 10) to do what we have to do with all our might; but here he reminds us that, when we have done all, we must leave the issue with God, and not be confident of the success.
Ecc 9:13-18
Solomon still recommends wisdom to us as necessary to the preserving of our peace and the perfecting of our business, notwithstanding the vanities and crosses which human affairs are subject to. He had said (v. 11), Bread is not always to the wise; yet he would not therefore be thought either to disparage, or to discourage, wisdom, no, he still retains his principle, that wisdom excels folly as much as light excels darkness (ch. 2:13), and we ought to love and embrace it, and be governed by it, for the sake of its own intrinsic worth, and the capacity it gives us of being serviceable to others, though we ourselves should not get wealth and preferment by it. This wisdom, that is, this which he here describes, wisdom which enables a man to serve his country out of pure affection to its interests, when he himself gains no advantage by it, no, not so much as thanks for his pains, or the reputation of it, this is the wisdom which, Solomon says, seemed great unto him, v. 13. A public spirit, in a private sphere, is wisdom which those who understand things that differ cannot but look upon as very magnificent.