The biblical book of the Ecclesiastes is very exactly in the theme of the existential reflection of the meaning of human life with some questions linked to death and hope. The Ecclesiastes puts them in two important perspectives: the description of the life which would be stripped of all spirituality, and on the other hand, which would be in a spiritual way of life. The Ecclesiastes will be analyzed chapter by chapter with first, after reading, a brief summary of its content, with pointing out some interesting biblical verses.
The central theme is: « The greatest vanity!” the congregator has said, “the greatest vanity! Everything is vanity! » (Ecclesiastes 1:2). The theme of the absurdity of the current human condition is illustrated by many examples. The human condition that leads him inexorably to death, so what he will undertake, in the end, this will be useless.
There is not only this realistic but also dark observation, there is also the best solution, written in the last words in the chapter 12: « The conclusion of the matter, everything having been heard, is: Fear the [true] God and keep his commandments. For this is the whole obligation of man. 14For the true God himself will bring every sort of work into the judgment in relation to every hidden thing, as to whether it is good or bad » (Ecclesiastes 12:13,14). If this book begins with a very dark aspect of existence, the counterpoint is the solution of the good relationship with God, that can get us out of this absurd cycle, of this existence, by granting us the everlasting life (John 316.36; 17:3). Throughout this observation of absurdity, there is an alternation between the spiritual darkness, our current human condition and the spiritual light, the fact that God can deliver us from this dead end.
Ecclesiastes chapter 1: after this famous sentence of the absurd dimension of human life with regard to death which is the conclusion. This chapter compares it to cycles of nature that one cannot prevent: the cycle of replacement of one generation by another, the sunrise, followed by the sunset, the wind movement, the circulation of water… The human life is like these cycles which we cannot get out of it, the birth, the life, the illness, the old age and the death, a generation replacing another… King Solomon (presenting himself as the « Congregator » (Ecclesia) of these reflections), shows, with his prestigious life experience, the relentless observation of vanity and the absurdity of human existence. This observation is impactful, because his life is the archetype of a successful human life:
The words of the congregator, the son of David the king in Jerusalem. 2“The greatest vanity!” the congregator has said, “the greatest vanity! Everything is vanity!” 3What profit does a man have in all his hard work at which he works hard under the sun? 4A generation is going, and a generation is coming; but the earth is standing even to time indefinite. 5And the sun also has flashed forth, and the sun has set, and it is coming panting to its place where it is going to flash forth.
6The wind is going to the south, and it is circling around to the north. Round and round it is continually circling, and right back to its circlings the wind is returning.
7All the winter torrents are going forth to the sea, yet the sea itself is not full. To the place where the winter torrents are going forth, there they are returning so as to go forth. 8All things are wearisome; no one is able to speak of it. The eye is not satisfied at seeing, neither is the ear filled from hearing. 9That which has come to be, that is what will come to be; and that which has been done, that is what will be done; and so there is nothing new under the sun. 10Does anything exist of which one may say: “See this; it is new”? It has already had existence for time indefinite; what has come into existence is from time prior to us. 11There is no remembrance of people of former times, nor will there be of those also who will come to be later. There will prove to be no remembrance even of them among those who will come to be still later on.
12I, the congregator, happened to be king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13And I set my heart to seek and explore wisdom in relation to everything that has been done under the heavens—the calamitous occupation that God has given to the sons of mankind in which to be occupied. 14I saw all the works that were done under the sun, and, look! everything was vanity and a striving after wind.
15That which is made crooked cannot be made straight, and that which is wanting cannot possibly be counted. 16I, even I, spoke with my heart, saying: “Look! I myself have greatly increased in wisdom more than anyone that happened to be before me in Jerusalem, and my own heart saw a great deal of wisdom and knowledge.” 17And I proceeded to give my heart to knowing wisdom and to knowing madness, and I have come to know folly, that this too is a striving after wind. 18For in the abundance of wisdom there is an abundance of vexation, so that he that increases knowledge increases pain.
« That which is made crooked cannot be made straight, and that which is wanting cannot possibly be counted » (Ecclesiastes 1:15). The deep solutions to change the spiritual darkness of the human condition, are not within reach, for example; it will not be able to solve the simple and tragic problem of aging, the complete eradication of diseases and death (Romans 5:12; 6:23).
« For in the abundance of wisdom there is an abundance of vexation, so that he that increases knowledge increases pain » (Ecclesiastes 1:18). The great knowledge leads to hyper lucidity, which for its part, leads to a great suffering… If the great knowledge is obviously useful, however, very often, it leads to the awareness of a life leading to a dead end of the human condition, which in the end, can only make it emotionally suffer…
Ecclesiastes chapter 2: it is a summary of all the successful way of life of king Salomon, and at end, repeating as conclusion, the theme of the beginning of the book of the Ecclesiastes: « This too is vanity and a striving after wind » (Ecclesiastes 2:26):
I said, even I, in my heart: “Do come now, let me try you out with rejoicing. Also, see good.” And, look! that too was vanity. 2I said to laughter: “Insanity!” and to rejoicing: “What is this doing?”
3I explored with my heart by cheering my flesh even with wine, while I was leading my heart with wisdom, even to lay hold on folly until I could see what good there was to the sons of mankind in what they did under the heavens for the number of the days of their life. 4I engaged in greater works. I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself. 5I made gardens and parks for myself, and I planted in them fruit trees of all sorts. 6I made pools of water for myself, to irrigate with them the forest, springing up with trees. 7I acquired menservants and maidservants, and I came to have sons of the household. Also, livestock, cattle and flocks in great quantity I came to have, more so than all those who happened to be before me in Jerusalem. 8I accumulated also silver and gold for myself, and property peculiar to kings and the jurisdictional districts. I made male singers and female singers for myself and the exquisite delights of the sons of mankind, a lady, even ladies. 9And I became greater and increased more than anyone that happened to be before me in Jerusalem. Moreover, my own wisdom remained mine.
10And anything that my eyes asked for I did not keep away from them. I did not hold back my heart from any sort of rejoicing, for my heart was joyful because of all my hard work, and this came to be my portion from all my hard work. 11And I, even I, turned toward all the works of mine that my hands had done and toward the hard work that I had worked hard to accomplish, and, look! everything was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing of advantage under the sun.
12And I, even I, turned to see wisdom and madness and folly; for what can the earthling man do who comes in after the king? The thing that people have already done. 13And I saw, even I, that there exists more advantage for wisdom than for folly, just as there is more advantage for light than for darkness.
14As regards anyone wise, his eyes are in his head; but the stupid one is walking on in sheer darkness. And I have come to know, I too, that there is one eventuality that eventuates to them all. 15And I myself said in my heart: “An eventuality like that upon the stupid one will eventuate to me, yes, me.” Why, then, had I become wise, I overmuch so at that time? And I spoke in my heart: “This too is vanity.” 16For there is no more remembrance of the wise one than of the stupid one to time indefinite. In the days that are already coming in, everyone is certainly forgotten; and how will the wise one die? Along with the stupid one.
17And I hated life, because the work that has been done under the sun was calamitous from my standpoint, for everything was vanity and a striving after wind. 18And I, even I, hated all my hard work at which I was working hard under the sun, that I would leave behind for the man who would come to be after me. 19And who is there knowing whether he will prove to be wise or foolish? Yet he will take control over all my hard work at which I worked hard and at which I showed wisdom under the sun. This too is vanity. 20And I myself turned around toward making my heart despair over all the hard work at which I had worked hard under the sun. 21For there exists the man whose hard work has been with wisdom and with knowledge and with proficiency, but to a man that has not worked hard at such a thing will be given the portion of that one. This too is vanity and a big calamity.
22For what does a man come to have for all his hard work and for the striving of his heart with which he is working hard under the sun? 23For all his days his occupation means pains and vexation, also during the night his heart just does not lie down. This too is mere vanity.
24With a man there is nothing better [than] that he should eat and indeed drink and cause his soul to see good because of his hard work. This too I have seen, even I, that this is from the hand of the [true] God. 25For who eats and who drinks better than I do?
26For to the man that is good before him he has given wisdom and knowledge and rejoicing, but to the sinner he has given the occupation of gathering and bringing together merely to give to the one that is good before the [true] God. This too is vanity and a striving after wind.
« For there is no more remembrance of the wise one than of the stupid one to time indefinite. In the days that are already coming in, everyone is certainly forgotten; and how will the wise one die? Along with the stupid one » (Ecclesiastes 2:16). The wisdom of Solomon is very famous, as it emerges in the biblical books of Proverbs and the Ecclesiastes. However, in the current state of things, did this old wise man condition benefit him? Not at all, because his reputation did not exempt him from dying, like the stupid with his foolishness… So, in the current state of things, there is no superiority of the wise one over the stupid one…
« With a man there is nothing better than that he should eat and indeed drink and cause his soul to see good because of his hard work. This too I have seen, even I, that this is from the hand of the [true] God. 25For who eats and who drinks better than I do? » (Ecclesiastes 2:24,25). It would seem to be an encouragement to a life simply based on pleasures, to hedonism. We must consider the context to understand that this is not the case. The previous verses show that there are humans who work hard and who live for a constant concern for their work, without the possibility of enjoying its result. Thus, in the case of these two extremes, a life of restless work, and a life where one takes advantage of his work by enjoying its fruit, this last alternative is better.
Ecclesiastes chapter 3: It is a reflection on the time and the human works that split it. Verses 1 to 9, show that time exists by the actions that delimit it. Verse 11, shows that God has given man this spiritual capacity to understand what is time, until the understanding of the eternity, the everlasting time. This knowledge increases much more the feeling of the extreme brevity of life. Verses 18 to 21, show that death is the opposite of life. There is no superiority of the wise one over the stupid one (see chapter 2), nor even the superiority of man over the animal, with regard, the end, the death:
For everything there is an appointed time, even a time for every affair under the heavens: 2a time for birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot what was planted; 3a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break down and a time to build; 4a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to wail and a time to skip about; 5a time to throw stones away and a time to bring stones together; a time to embrace and a time to keep away from embracing; 6a time to seek and a time to give up as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away; 7a time to rip apart and a time to sew together; a time to keep quiet and a time to speak; 8a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace. 9What advantage is there for the doer in what he is working hard at?
10I have seen the occupation that God has given to the sons of mankind in which to be occupied. 11Everything he has made pretty in its time. Even time indefinite he has put in their heart, that mankind may never find out the work that the [true] God has made from the start to the finish. 12I have come to know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good during one’s life; 13and also that every man should eat and indeed drink and see good for all his hard work. It is the gift of God.
14I have come to know that everything that the [true] God makes, it will prove to be to time indefinite. To it there is nothing to add and from it there is nothing to subtract; but the [true] God himself has made it, that people may be afraid on account of him.
15What has happened to be, it had already been, and what is to come to be has already proved to be; and the [true] God himself keeps seeking that which is pursued.
16And I have further seen under the sun the place of justice where there was wickedness and the place of righteousness where wickedness was. 17I myself have said in my heart: “The [true] God will judge both the righteous one and the wicked one, for there is a time for every affair and concerning every work there.”
18I, even I, have said in my heart with regard to the sons of mankind that the [true] God is going to select them, that they may see that they themselves are beasts. 19For there is an eventuality as respects the sons of mankind and an eventuality as respects the beast, and they have the same eventuality. As the one dies, so the other dies; and they all have but one spirit, so that there is no superiority of the man over the beast, for everything is vanity. 20All are going to one place. They have all come to be from the dust, and they are all returning to the dust. 21Who is there knowing the spirit of the sons of mankind, whether it is ascending upward; and the spirit of the beast, whether it is descending downward to the earth? 22And I have seen that there is nothing better than that the man should rejoice in his works, for that is his portion; because who will bring him in to look on what is going to be after him?
« Even time indefinite he has put in their heart » (Ecclesiastes 3:11): God gave to the man the understanding of the abstract notion of time and eternity. It is an important point showing that in the beginning, man was created to live to enjoy the « time indefinite » of life, the everlasting life (Genesis 2:7). How could a God of love, have created humans able to understand the eternity, without being able to enjoy it, making his life only from 70 to 80 years or a little more? (See the page why? https://yomelyah.com/435935499).
« And I have further seen under the sun the place of justice where there was wickedness and the place of righteousness where wickedness was. 17I myself have said in my heart: “The true God will judge both the righteous one and the wicked one, for there is a time for every affair and concerning every work there » (Ecclesiastes 3:16,17). Even if wickedness currently predominates, in the end, God will ask everyone an account for their acts (Romans 14:12).
Ecclesiastes chapter 4: It is a description of the desperate condition of oppressed people who suffer so much that, sometimes, the condition of the dead who no longer suffer, is better (read verse 2):
And I myself returned that I might see all the acts of oppression that are being done under the sun, and, look! the tears of those being oppressed, but they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power, so that they had no comforter. 2And I congratulated the dead who had already died rather than the living who were still alive. 3So better than both of them [is] the one who has not yet come to be, who has not seen the calamitous work that is being done under the sun.
4And I myself have seen all the hard work and all the proficiency in work, that it means the rivalry of one toward another; this also is vanity and a striving after the wind.
5The stupid one is folding his hands and is eating his own flesh.
6Better is a handful of rest than a double handful of hard work and striving after the wind.
7I myself returned that I might see the vanity under the sun: 8There exists one, but not a second one; also no son or brother does he have, but there is no end to all his hard work. Also, his eyes themselves are not satisfied with riches: “And for whom am I working hard and causing my soul to lack in good things?” This too is vanity, and it is a calamitous occupation.
9Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their hard work. 10For if one of them should fall, the other one can raise his partner up. But how will it be with just the one who falls when there is not another to raise him up?
11Moreover, if two lie down together, they also will certainly get warm; but how can just one keep warm? 12And if somebody could overpower one alone, two together could make a stand against him. And a threefold cord cannot quickly be torn in two.
13Better is a needy but wise child than an old but stupid king, who has not come to know enough to be warned any longer. 14For he has gone forth from the prison house itself to become king, although in the kingship of this one he had been born as one of little means. 15I have seen all those alive who are walking about under the sun, [how it goes] with the child, who is second, that stands up in the other one’s place. 16There is no end to all the people, to all those before whom he happened to be; neither will people afterward rejoice in him, for this too is vanity and a striving after the wind.
The last verses in chapter 4 (13-16), show what can be responsible for the suffering of the oppressed people… They can be governed by real bandits, who have no legitimacy to reign as king: « For he has gone forth from the prison house itself to become king, although in the kingship of this one he had been born as one of little means » (Ecclesiastes 4:14). And there is no shortage of examples in world history, showing that peoples have often been governed by real murderers, psychopaths who have massacred hundreds, thousands, even millions of humans, in labor camps and concentration camps. The mediocrity of these oppressive individuals is comparable to that of the human who is second, usurping the “other one’s place”: « I have seen all those alive who are walking about under the sun, how it goes with the child, who is second, that stands up in the other one’s place » (Ecclesiastes 4:15).
Ecclesiastes Chapter 5: It is a compilation of proverbial sentences like to the biblical book of Proverbs. Nevertheless, what emerges, is that when we pray God, wanting, for example to « vow a vow », it is necessary to be very careful about what we are going to tell Him. For God, each word that comes out of our mouth is important. Thus, whoever makes a vow before God, by his own words, will be attached as by a rope that he will not able to cut:
Guard your feet whenever you go to the house of the [true] God; and let there be a drawing near to hear, rather than to give a sacrifice as the stupid ones do, for they are not aware of doing what is bad.
2Do not hurry yourself as regards your mouth; and as for your heart, let it not be hasty to bring forth a word before the [true] God. For the [true] God is in the heavens but you are on the earth. That is why your words should prove to be few. 3For a dream certainly comes in because of abundance of occupation, and the voice of a stupid one because of the abundance of words. 4Whenever you vow a vow to God, do not hesitate to pay it, for there is no delight in the stupid ones. What you vow, pay. 5Better is it that you vow not than that you vow and do not pay. 6Do not allow your mouth to cause your flesh to sin, neither say before the angel that it was a mistake. Why should the [true] God become indignant on account of your voice and have to wreck the work of your hands? 7For because of abundance [of occupation] there are dreams, and there are vanities and words in abundance. But fear the [true] God himself.
8If you see any oppression of the one of little means and the violent taking away of judgment and of righteousness in a jurisdictional district, do not be amazed over the affair, for one that is higher than the high one is watching, and there are those who are high above them.
9Also, the profit of the earth is among them all; for a field the king himself has been served.
10A mere lover of silver will not be satisfied with silver, neither any lover of wealth with income. This too is vanity.
11When good things become many, those eating them certainly become many. And what advantage is there to the grand owner of them, except looking [at them] with his eyes?
12Sweet is the sleep of the one serving, regardless of whether it is little or much that he eats; but the plenty belonging to the rich one is not permitting him to sleep.
13There exists a grave calamity that I have seen under the sun: riches being kept for their grand owner to his calamity. 14And those riches have perished because of a calamitous occupation, and he has become father to a son when there is nothing at all in his hand.
15Just as one has come forth from his mother’s belly, naked will one go away again, just as one came; and nothing at all can one carry away for his hard work, which he can take along with his hand.
16And this too is a grave calamity: exactly as one has come, so one will go away; and what profit is there to the one who keeps working hard for the wind? 17Also, all his days he eats in darkness itself, with a great deal of vexation, with sickness on his part and [cause for] indignation.
18Look! The best thing that I myself have seen, which is pretty, is that one should eat and drink and see good for all his hard work with which he works hard under the sun for the number of the days of his life that the [true] God has given him, for that is his portion. 19Also every man to whom the [true] God has given riches and material possessions, he has even empowered him to eat from it and to carry off his portion and to rejoice in his hard work. This is the gift of God. 20For not often will he remember the days of his life, because the [true] God is preoccupying [him] with the rejoicing of his heart.
Some important points of the chapter, without systematically commenting them all, but as a meditation theme:
« Also, the profit of the earth is among them all; for a field the king himself has been served » (Ecclesiastes 5:9). Whatever the economic system established by men, they will always depend on the food power of the nourishing land, the agricultural land, and even the kings do not escape it…
« Sweet is the sleep of the one serving, regardless of whether it is little or much that he eats; but the plenty belonging to the rich one is not permitting him to sleep » (Ecclesiastes 5:12)…
« Just as one has come forth from his mother’s belly, naked will one go away again, just as one came; and nothing at all can one carry away for his hard work, which he can take along with his hand » (Ecclesiastes 5:15)… « And this too is a grave calamity: exactly as one has come, so one will go away; and what profit is there to the one who keeps working hard for the wind? 17Also, all his days he eats in darkness itself, with a great deal of vexation, with sickness on his part and cause for indignation » (Ecclesiastes 5:16,17)…
« For because of abundance of occupation there are dreams » (Ecclesiastes 5:7). According to the Bible, not all dreams are premonitory signs. Dreams are often the result of the brain activity of the storage of souvenirs of the actions during the occupation of the day, often surreal, until artistic…
Ecclesiastes chapter 6: This is the theme of enjoying and not enjoying of the good result of a work. Sometimes, a man may not see the good result of his work, due to God action, or due to man putting himself in this situation. Anyway, in both cases, it is an expression of vanity or what is absurd:
There exists a calamity that I have seen under the sun, and it is frequent among mankind: 2a man to whom the [true] God gives riches and material possessions and glory and who, for his soul, is in no need of anything that he shows himself longing for, and yet the [true] God does not enable him to eat from it, although a mere foreigner may eat it. This is vanity and it is a bad sickness. 3If a man should become a father a hundred times, and he should live many years, so that numerous the days of his years should become, yet his own soul is not satisfied with good things and even the grave has not become his, I must say that one prematurely born is better off than he is. 4For in vain has this one come and in darkness he goes away, and with darkness his own name will be covered. 5Even the sun itself he has not seen, neither known. This one has rest rather than the former one. 6Even supposing that he has lived a thousand years twice over and yet he has not seen what is good, is it not to just one place that everyone is going?
7All the hard work of mankind is for their mouth, but even their own soul does not get filled. 8For what advantage does the wise have over the stupid one? What does the afflicted one have in knowing how to walk in front of the living ones? 9Better is the seeing by the eyes than the walking about of the soul. This too is vanity and a striving after the wind.
10Whatever has come to be, its name has already been pronounced, and it has become known what man is; and he is not able to plead his cause with one that is more powerful than he is.
11Because there exist many things that are causing much vanity, what advantage does a man have? 12For who is there knowing what good a man has in life for the number of the days of his vain life, when he spends them like a shadow? For who can tell man what will happen after him under the sun?
« Better is the seeing by the eyes than the walking about of the soul. This too is vanity and a striving after the wind » (Ecclesiastes 6:9). A life that has a purpose or a specific goal, is better experienced than that without any objective, creating a form of an existential wandering, as empty life…
« Because there exist many things that are causing much vanity, what advantage does a man have? 12For who is there knowing what good a man has in life for the number of the days of his vain life, when he spends them like a shadow? For who can tell man what will happen after him under the sun? » (Ecclesiastes 6:11,12). It is a form of repetition of the central theme of the Ecclesiastes book, on the vanity of the existence of the condemned and subjected mortal man, in spite of himself, to the deadly law of sin inherited from Adam (Ecclesiastes 1:2; Romans 5:12).
Ecclesiastes chapter 7: There is the same structure as the book of Proverbs, with its proverbial sentences. However, we can note a dominant proverbial maxim, namely, the end of an event or a thing, is better than its beginning:
A name is better than good oil, and the day of death than the day of one’s being born. 2Better is it to go to the house of mourning than to go to the banquet house, because that is the end of all mankind; and the one alive should take [it] to his heart. 3Better is vexation than laughter, for by the crossness of the face the heart becomes better. 4The heart of the wise ones is in the house of mourning, but the heart of the stupid ones is in the house of rejoicing.
5Better is it to hear the rebuke of someone wise than to be the man hearing the song of the stupid ones. 6For as the sound of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the stupid one; and this too is vanity. 7For mere oppression may make a wise one act crazy, and a gift can destroy the heart.
8Better is the end afterward of a matter than its beginning. Better is one who is patient than one who is haughty in spirit. 9Do not hurry yourself in your spirit to become offended, for the taking of offense is what rests in the bosom of the stupid ones.
10Do not say: “Why has it happened that the former days proved to be better than these?” for it is not due to wisdom that you have asked about this.
11Wisdom along with an inheritance is good and is advantageous for those seeing the sun. 12For wisdom is for a protection [the same as] money is for a protection; but the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom itself preserves alive its owners.
13See the work of the [true] God, for who is able to make straight what he has made crooked? 14On a good day prove yourself to be in goodness, and on a calamitous day see that the [true] God has made even this exactly as that, to the intent that mankind may not discover anything at all after them.
15Everything I have seen during my vain days. There exists the righteous one perishing in his righteousness, and there exists the wicked one continuing long in his badness.
16Do not become righteous overmuch, nor show yourself excessively wise. Why should you cause desolation to yourself? 17Do not be wicked overmuch, nor become foolish. Why should you die when it is not your time? 18It is better that you should take hold of the one, but from the other also do not withdraw your hand; for he that fears God will go forth with them all.
19Wisdom itself is stronger for the wise one than ten men in power who happened to be in a city. 20For there is no man righteous in the earth that keeps doing good and does not sin.
21Also, do not give your heart to all the words that people may speak, that you may not hear your servant calling down evil upon you. 22For your own heart well knows even many times that you, even you, have called down evil upon others.
23All this I have tested with wisdom. I said: “I will become wise.” But it was far from me. 24What has come to be is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out? 25I myself turned around, even my heart did, to know and to explore and to search for wisdom and the reason of things, and to know about the wickedness of stupidity and the foolishness of madness; 26and I was finding out: More bitter than death [I found] the woman who is herself nets for hunting and whose heart is dragnets [and] whose hands are fetters. One is good before the [true] God if one escapes from her, but one is sinning if one is captured by her.
27“See! This I have found,” said the congregator, “one thing [taken] after another, to find out the sum-up, 28which my soul has continuously sought, but I have not found. One man out of a thousand I have found, but a woman among all these I have not found. 29See! This only I have found, that the [true] God made mankind upright, but they themselves have sought out many plans”.
« A name is better than good oil, and the day of death than the day of one’s being born » (Ecclesiastes 7:1-4). It is at the end of a life, that a human has made a beautiful or a bad name, a renown or a reputation (good or bad) before God and men. Given that death is naturally part of the human condition, it is necessary sometimes, to think about it, especially when accompanying the family and friends, in the expression of their mourning, due to the loss of a loved one. The fact of wanting to deny this reality by leading a life essentially oriented on pleasures, without any reflection on this reality, is completely stupid: « Better is vexation than laughter, for by the crossness of the face the heart becomes better. 4 The heart of the wise ones is in the house of mourning, but the heart of the stupid ones is in the house of rejoicing » (Ecclesiastes 7:3,4).
« For mere oppression may make a wise one act crazy, and a gift can destroy the heart » (Ecclesiastes 7:7). An extreme physical and emotional suffering can cause the loss of the psychological, mental until the spiritual balance of a person who has the reputation of being a wise one (see the example of Asaph in Psalms 73).
« Everything I have seen during my vain days. There exists the righteous one perishing in his righteousness, and there exists the wicked one continuing long in his badness » (Ecclesiastes 7:15). There is a same proverbial sentence in the chapter 8: « There exists a vanity that is carried out on the earth, that there exist righteous ones to whom it is happening as if for the work of the wicked ones, and there exist wicked ones to whom it is happening as if for the work of the righteous ones. I said that this too is vanity » (Ecclesiastes 8:14). The absurd human condition, created surrealistic situations, the righteous who die prematurely because of their justice and the bad guys who manage to live for a long time. The righteous ones suffering from horrible death in labor camps and concentration camps, so as not to compromise with their conscience, while the torturers die cozy in their bed, after a long life and a beautiful old age. Sometimes the vision of things is completely reversed, the righteous man has the result of life of the bad guy and the wicked one with good results in life, by accusing reversal and inversion of values (read Isaiah 5:20). This is another revolting expression of the current absurdity of the human condition (read Habacuc 1:2-4).
« Do not become righteous overmuch, nor show yourself excessively wise. Why should you cause desolation to yourself? » (Ecclesiastes 7:16). This text shows that a psychological rigidity that even tends towards what is right, can create serious relationship problems. The best example is that of the Pharisees of the time of Jesus Christ, who ended up having a high opinion of their person, while despising those who were not like them (read Luke 18:9-14).
Ecclesiastes chapter 8: « Who is there like the wise one? And who is there knowing the interpretation of a thing? The wisdom of a man itself causes his face to shine, and even the sternness of his face is changed for the better » (Ecclesiastes 8:1). The expression of the superiority of wisdom is expressed in chapter 8 in different ways:
Who is there like the wise one? And who is there knowing the interpretation of a thing? The wisdom of a man itself causes his face to shine, and even the sternness of his face is changed [for the better].
2I [say:] “Keep the very order of the king, and that out of regard for the oath of God. 3Do not hurry yourself, that you may go out from before him. Do not stand in a bad thing. For all that he delights [to do] he will do, 4because the word of the king is the power of control; and who may say to him: ‘What are you doing?’”
5He that is keeping the commandment will not know any calamitous thing, and the wise heart will know both time and judgment. 6For there exists a time and judgment even for every affair, because the calamity of mankind is abundant upon them. 7For there is no one knowing what will come to be, because who can tell him just how it will come to be?
8There is no man having power over the spirit to restrain the spirit; neither is there any power of control in the day of death; nor is there any discharge in the war. And wickedness will provide no escape for those indulging in it.
9All this I have seen, and there was an applying of my heart to every work that has been done under the sun, [during] the time that man has dominated man to his injury. 10But, though this is so, I have seen the wicked ones being buried, how they came in and how they would go away from the holy place itself and be forgotten in the city where they acted that way. This too is vanity.
11Because sentence against a bad work has not been executed speedily, that is why the heart of the sons of men has become fully set in them to do bad. 12Although a sinner may be doing bad a hundred times and continuing a long time as he pleases, yet I am also aware that it will turn out well with those fearing the [true] God, because they were in fear of him. 13But it will not turn out well at all with the wicked one, neither will he prolong his days that are like a shadow, because he is not in fear of God.
14There exists a vanity that is carried out on the earth, that there exist righteous ones to whom it is happening as if for the work of the wicked ones, and there exist wicked ones to whom it is happening as if for the work of the righteous ones. I said that this too is vanity.
15And I myself commended rejoicing, because mankind have nothing better under the sun than to eat and drink and rejoice, and that it should accompany them in their hard work for the days of their life, which the [true] God has given them under the sun. 16In accord with this I applied my heart to know wisdom and to see the occupation that is carried on in the earth, because there is one seeing no sleep with his eyes, either by day or by night.
17And I saw all the work of the [true] God, how mankind are not able to find out the work that has been done under the sun; however much mankind keep working hard to seek, yet they do not find out. And even if they should say they are wise enough to know, they would be unable to find out.
« Because sentence against a bad work has not been executed speedily, that is why the heart of the sons of men has become fully set in them to do bad » (Ecclesiastes 8:11). In the countries where the justice is lax towards offenders, generate in fact, always more delinquency.
« All this I have seen, and there was an applying of my heart to every work that has been done under the sun, during the time that man has dominated man to his injury » (Ecclesiastes 8:9). The thousands of pages of history books, are there to testify that the ruling classes have often made peoples suffer, exploiting them for their profit (Ezekiel Chapter 34)…
« And I saw all the work of the true God, how mankind are not able to find out the work that has been done under the sun; however much mankind keep working hard to seek, yet they do not find out. And even if they should say they are wise enough to know, they would be unable to find out » (Ecclesiastes 8:17). The great knowledge creates an opposite sensation, that is to say, that we do not know much. The more we seek or study a subject, the more there are other research doors that open, which gives the feeling that we did not find much.
Ecclesiastes chapter 9: this is the theme of the end of life, but also of the coincidence of unforeseen events that can tip existence:
For I took all this to my heart, even to search out all this, that the righteous ones and the wise ones and their works are in the hand of the [true] God. Mankind are not aware of either the love or the hate that were all prior to them. 2All are the same in what all have. One eventuality there is to the righteous one and the wicked one, the good one and the clean one and the unclean one, and the one sacrificing and the one that is not sacrificing. The good one is the same as the sinner; the one swearing is the same as whoever has been afraid of a sworn oath. 3This is what is calamitous in all that has been done under the sun, that, because there is one eventuality to all, the heart of the sons of men is also full of bad; and there is madness in their heart during their lifetime, and after it—to the dead ones!
4For as respects whoever is joined to all the living there exists confidence, because a live dog is better off than a dead lion. 5For the living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all, neither do they anymore have wages, because the remembrance of them has been forgotten. 6Also, their love and their hate and their jealousy have already perished, and they have no portion anymore to time indefinite in anything that has to be done under the sun.
7Go, eat your food with rejoicing and drink your wine with a good heart, because already the [true] God has found pleasure in your works. 8On every occasion let your garments prove to be white, and let oil not be lacking upon your head. 9See life with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life that He has given you under the sun, all the days of your vanity, for that is your portion in life and in your hard work with which you are working hard under the sun. 10All that your hand finds to do, do with your very power, for there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheʹol, the place to which you are going.
11I returned to see under the sun that the swift do not have the race, nor the mighty ones the battle, nor do the wise also have the food, nor do the understanding ones also have the riches, nor do even those having knowledge have the favor; because time and unforeseen occurrence befall them all. 12For man also does not know his time. Just like fishes that are being taken in an evil net, and like birds that are being taken in a trap, so the sons of men themselves are being ensnared at a calamitous time, when it falls upon them suddenly.
13Also this I saw as respects wisdom under the sun—and it was great to me: 14There was a little city, and the men in it were few; and there came to it a great king, and he surrounded it and built against it great strongholds. 15And there was found in it a man, needy [but] wise, and that one provided escape for the city by his wisdom. But no man remembered that needy man. 16And I myself said: “Wisdom is better than mightiness; yet the wisdom of the needy one is despised, and his words are not listened to.”
17The words of the wise ones in quietness are more to be heard than the cry of one ruling among stupid people.
18Wisdom is better than implements for fighting, and merely one sinner can destroy much good.
Let us stop on the theme of the death condition. In the examination of chapter 3:19-21, the observation is clear, death is the opposite of life: « For the living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all, neither do they anymore have wages, because the remembrance of them has been forgotten. (…) All that your hand finds to do, do with your very power, for there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol, the place to which you are going » (Ecclesiastes 9:5,10). This idea is repeated in chapter 9. However, what about many testimonies that would seem to say the opposite? Indeed, the Bible mentions that humans could « inquire the dead » (Deuteronomy 18:9-13). However, this practice, of inquiring the dead is, according to the context of Deuteronomy 18, classified as being an occult practice, that is to say, in connection with the direct relationship with demons. The Bible clearly designates the promoters of this lie, Satan the devil and the demons, describing death as a stage leading to another kind of life. They are demonic imposters who pretend to be the dead who can speak and contact the living ones. The second testimony, of this occult practice of inquiring the dead, is that of king Saul, who sought to inquire the dead « Samuel », through a woman spirit medium (1 Samuel 28:3,11).
« I returned to see under the sun that the swift do not have the race, nor the mighty ones the battle, nor do the wise also have the food, nor do the understanding ones also have the riches, nor do even those having knowledge have the favor; because time and unforeseen occurrence befall them all. For man also does not know his time. Just like fishes that are being taken in an evil net, and like birds that are being taken in a trap, so the sons of men themselves are being ensnared at a calamitous time, when it falls upon them suddenly » (Ecclesiastes 9:11,12). Suffering can be the result of « unforeseen occurrence » which makes the people to be in the wrong place, at the wrong time. At no time Jesus Christ said that victims of accidents or natural disasters would have sinned more than others, or even that God causes such events to punish sinners. Whether, currently, illnesses, accidents or natural disasters, are not provoked by God and those who are victims do not have more sin than the others.
« Wisdom is better than mightiness; yet the wisdom of the needy one is despised, and his words are not listened to » (Ecclesiastes 9:13-16). The current observation is: people very rarely ask the point of view of a needy one, even if he is a very wise one. On the other hand, we often see very rich people, without any instruction, sometimes until stupid, to whom they ask for their point of view, until to give advice to the people.
Ecclesiastes chapter 10: It is a series of proverbial sentences, which we will bring out some interesting points:
Dead flies are what cause the oil of the ointment maker to stink, to bubble forth. So a little foolishness does to one who is precious for wisdom and glory.
2The heart of the wise is at his right hand, but the heart of the stupid at his left hand. 3And also in whatever way the foolish one is walking, his own heart is lacking, and he certainly says to everybody that he is foolish.
4If the spirit of a ruler should mount up against you, do not leave your own place, for calmness itself allays great sins.
5There exists something calamitous that I have seen under the sun, as when there is a mistake going forth on account of the one in power: 6Foolishness has been put in many high positions, but the rich ones themselves keep dwelling merely in a low condition.
7I have seen servants on horses but princes walking on the earth just like servants.
8He that is digging a pit will himself fall right into it; and he that is breaking through a stone wall, a serpent will bite him.
9He that is quarrying out stones will hurt himself with them. He that is splitting logs will have to be careful with them.
10If an iron tool has become blunt and someone has not whetted its edge, then he will exert his own vital energies. So the using of wisdom to success means advantage.
11If the serpent bites when no charming results, then there is no advantage to the one indulging in the tongue.
12The words of the mouth of the wise one mean favor, but the lips of the stupid one swallow him up. 13The start of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end afterward of his mouth is calamitous madness. 14And the foolish one speaks many words.
Man does not know what will come to be; and that which will come to be after him, who can tell him?
15The hard work of the stupid ones makes them weary, because not one has come to know how to go to the city.
16How will it be with you, O land, when your king is a boy and your own princes keep eating even in the morning? 17Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of noble ones and your own princes eat at the proper time for mightiness, not for mere drinking.
18Through great laziness the beamwork sinks in, and through the letting down of the hands the house leaks.
19Bread is for the laughter of the workers, and wine itself makes life rejoice; but money is what meets a response in all things.
20Even in your bedroom do not call down evil upon the king himself, and in the interior rooms where you lie down do not call down evil upon anyone rich; for a flying creature of the heavens will convey the sound and something owning wings will tell the matter.
« The heart of the wise is at his right hand, but the heart of the stupid at his left hand. 3 And also in whatever way the foolish one is walking, his own heart is lacking, and he certainly says to everybody that he is foolish » (Ecclesiastes 10:2,3). The verse three seems to give the meaning of the verse two. The heart, the right and the left, are symbolic. The heart symbolizes, in this context, the ability to take good or bad decisions. The left seems to symbolize stupidity or clumsiness. Generally, humans are right-handed, and the right side can mean what is accomplished with skill and wisdom. While things done with the left hand can be done awkwardly. In another biblical context, Jesus Christ symbolized the right by God approval, and the left, by the position of disapproval, in the illustration of sheep and goats (Matthew 25:31-46).
« I have seen servants on horses but princes walking on the earth just like servants » (Ecclesiastes 10:7). Often, in this system of things, it can have an inversion of values (Isaiah 5:20). A human with a great spiritual integrity, with noble feelings, like a prince, can be treated as a simple servant and with contempt. In the other hand, there are humans only able of being servants, without noble feelings, sometimes have a high rank and are seen as princes. This is a bit of repetition, in another form, of what it is written in Ecclesiastes 7:15 and 8:14.
« Even in your bedroom do not call down evil upon the king himself, and in the interior rooms where you lie down do not call down evil upon anyone rich; for a flying creature of the heavens will convey the sound and something owning wings will tell the matter » (Ecclesiastes 10:20). In most cases, confidential things, over time, end up being known, as Jesus Christ said: « For there is nothing hidden that will not become manifest, neither anything carefully concealed that will never become known and never come into the open » (Luke 8:17).
Ecclesiastes chapter 11: it is the general theme of this chapter which illustrates the fact that perseverance is often rewarded, it is enough to endure and to be patient:
Send out your bread upon the surface of the waters, for in the course of many days you will find it again. 2Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what calamity will occur on the earth.
3If the clouds are filled [with water], they empty out a sheer downpour upon the earth; and if a tree falls to the south or if to the north, in the place where the tree falls there it will prove to be.
4He that is watching the wind will not sow seed; and he that is looking at the clouds will not reap.
5Just as you are not aware of what is the way of the spirit in the bones in the belly of her that is pregnant, in like manner you do not know the work of the [true] God, who does all things.
6In the morning sow your seed and until the evening do not let your hand rest; for you are not knowing where this will have success, either here or there, or whether both of them will alike be good.
7The light is also sweet, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun; 8for if a man should live even many years, in all of them let him rejoice. And let him remember the days of darkness, though they could be many; every [day] that has come in is vanity.
9Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart do you good in the days of your young manhood, and walk in the ways of your heart and in the things seen by your eyes. But know that on account of all these the [true] God will bring you into judgment. 10So remove vexation from your heart, and ward off calamity from your flesh; for youth and the prime of life are vanity.
« He that is watching the wind will not sow seed; and he that is looking at the clouds will not reap » (Ecclesiastes 11:4). Someone who is constantly in examining a situation before taking action, seems to show a sick fear of failure. It is important to know how to take risks when undertaking a project, without constantly waiting for all the conditions to be met, to ultimately take action. If someone is in the disposition of mind, of the zero risk, ultimately, will not do much in life, « he that is looking at the clouds will not reap ».
Ecclesiastes chapter 12: it is the poetic conclusion of the biblical book of Ecclesiastes, that encourages us to take advantage of our relatively brief existence to serve God. It is advisable to take advantage of the youth, the physical, mental and spiritual capacities, to put them at the service of our Creator, who has the capacity to give us back the life, by granting us everlasting life:
“Remember, now, your Grand Creator in the days of your young manhood, before the calamitous days proceed to come, or the years have arrived when you will say: “I have no delight in them”; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds have returned, afterward the downpour; 3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the men of vital energy have bent themselves, and the grinding women have quit working because they have become few, and the ladies seeing at the windows have found it dark; 4 and the doors onto the street have been closed, when the sound of the grinding mill becomes low, and one gets up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song sound low. 5 Also, they have become afraid merely at what is high, and there are terrors in the way. And the almond tree carries blossoms, and the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caper berry bursts, because man is walking to his long-lasting house and the wailers have marched around in the street; 6 before the silver cord is removed, and the golden bowl gets crushed, and the jar at the spring is broken, and the waterwheel for the cistern has been crushed. 7 Then the dust returns to the earth just as it happened to be and the spirit itself returns to the true God who gave it.
8 “The greatest vanity!” said the congregator, “Everything is vanity.”
9 And besides the fact that the congregator had become wise, he also taught the people knowledge continually, and he pondered and made a thorough search, that he might arrange many proverbs in order. 10 The congregator sought to find the delightful words and the writing of correct words of truth.
11 The words of the wise ones are like oxgoads, and just like nails driven in are those indulging in collections of sentences; they have been given from one shepherd. 12 As regards anything besides these, my son, take a warning: To the making of many books there is no end, and much devotion to them is wearisome to the flesh.
13 The conclusion of the matter, everything having been heard, is: Fear the [true] God and keep his commandments. For this is the whole obligation of man. 14 For the [true] God himself will bring every sort of work into the judgment in relation to every hidden thing, as to whether it is good or bad” (Ecclesiastes chapter 12).
In this chapter, there is a metaphorical description of old age phenomena, when there is no more pleasure (verse 1). The moment when old people gradually lose the sight (verse 2), when the hands are shaking, the back is bending, the teeth fall, the eyes lose their visual acuity (verse 3), the progressive loss of hearing (verse 4), losing one’s balance, the gray hair, loss of leg agility, which gradually lead it to the last destination, the tomb (verse 5-7). This means that the theme of the beginning (in Ecclesiastes 1:2), is repeated: “The greatest vanity!” said the congregator, “Everything is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 12:8). Therefore, here is the conclusion that makes it possible to understand what should be the choice of a human who would like to give a real meaning to his life:
« The conclusion of the matter, everything having been heard, is: Fear the true God and keep his commandments. For this is the whole obligation of man. 14 For the true God himself will bring every sort of work into the judgment in relation to every hidden thing, as to whether it is good or bad » (Ecclesiastes 12:13,14).
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The Spiritual Man and the Physical Man (Hebrews 6:1)
Reading and Understanding the Bible (Psalms 1:2, 3)
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