Ecclesiastes · WEB-C
Ecclesiastes
1
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The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem: See also: Ecclesiastes 12:8-10Ecclesiastes 1:12Ecclesiastes 7:27“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” See also: Psalms 144:4Romans 8:20Ecclesiastes 5:10What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun? See also: Ecclesiastes 3:9Ecclesiastes 2:22Ecclesiastes 5:16One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever. See also: Psalms 104:5Ecclesiastes 6:12Zechariah 1:5The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises. See also: Habakkuk 3:11Psalms 19:4-6Psalms 42:1The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses. See also: John 3:8Ecclesiastes 11:5Psalms 107:29All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again. See also: Job 38:10-11All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. See also: Proverbs 27:20Matthew 11:28Ecclesiastes 4:8That which has been is that which shall be, and that which has been done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun. See also: Ecclesiastes 3:15Ecclesiastes 6:10Revelation 21:1Is there a thing of which it may be said, “Behold, this is new”? It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us. See also: Acts 7:51Luke 17:26-30Matthew 23:30-32There is no memory of the former; neither shall there be any memory of the latter that are to come, among those that shall come after. See also: Ecclesiastes 2:16Psalms 9:6Ecclesiastes 9:5I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. See also: Ecclesiastes 1:11 Kings 4:1-19I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. See also: Ecclesiastes 3:10Genesis 3:19Ecclesiastes 8:16-17I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind. See also: Ecclesiastes 2:11Ecclesiastes 2:17Ecclesiastes 2:26That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted. See also: Ecclesiastes 7:12-13Matthew 6:27Ecclesiastes 3:14I said to myself, “Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” See also: Ecclesiastes 2:91 Kings 4:301 Kings 10:7I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind. See also: Ecclesiastes 2:31 Thessalonians 5:21Ecclesiastes 7:23-25For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow. See also: Job 28:28Ecclesiastes 12:12-131 Corinthians 3:18-20
See also: Cross references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), derived in part from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).
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Notes · Haydock (1859, public domain)16 notes
Notes in English 19th-century Catholic commentary by Fr. George Leo Haydock, shown as published.
These notes keep the polemics of their time: some speak harshly of the Jewish people or of other Christians. The Church teaches otherwise today. The Jewish people may not be blamed for the death of Christ (Nostra Aetate 4; Catechism 597–598), and Christians of other communities are our brothers and sisters in the Lord (Unitatis Redintegratio 3). Christian unity
Introduction to the book
This 19th-century note uses polemical language; read it in the light of the note at the top of this panel.
ECCLESIASTES.
PREFACE.
This Book is called Ecclesiastes, or the preacher, (in Hebrew, Coheleth) because in it Solomon, as an excellent preacher, setteth forth the vanity of the things of this world, to withdraw the hearts and affections of men from such empty toys. Ch. --- Coheleth is a feminine noun, to indicate the elegance of the discourse. It is very difficult to discriminate the objections of free-thinkers from the real sentiments of the author. It is most generally supposed that Solomon wrote this after his repentance; but this is very uncertain. S. Jerom (in C. xii. 12.) informs us that the collectors of the sacred books had some scruple about admitting this; and Luther speaks of it with great disrespect: (Coll. conviv.) but the Church has always maintained its authority. See Conc. v.
Act. 4. Philast. 132. C. --- It refutes the false notions of worldlings, concerning felicity; and shews that it consists in the service of God and fruition. W.
Ecclesiastes 1:1
Ver. 1. Jerusalem. This clearly designates Solomon. See v. 12. C. xii. 8.
↑ 1Ecclesiastes 1:2
Ver. 2. Vanities. Most vain and despicable, (C.) and frustrating the expectations of men. M. ---
S. Aug. reads vanitantium, and infers that this vanity of sublunary things is an effect of man's sin.
Yet he afterwards discovered that he had read incorrectly. Ret. i. 7.
↑ 2Ecclesiastes 1:3
Ver. 3. Labour. People fight for a mere point; for such is the earth compared with the universe.
Sen. q. Nat. Hoc est punctum, &c. Matt. xvi. 26.
↑ 3Ecclesiastes 1:4
Ver. 4. Ever. Its substance remains, though the form be changed. C. --- At the end of time, it will be purified to continue for ever. W.
↑ 4Ecclesiastes 1:5
Ver. 5. Place daily. Its annual motion is then mentioned. C.
↑ 5Ecclesiastes 1:6
Ver. 6. Spirit. The sun, (S. Jer.) which is like the soul of the world, and which some have falsely asserted to be animated; or rather (C.) the wind is meant, as one rises in different parts of the world when another falls. Pliny ii. 27. M.
↑ 6Ecclesiastes 1:7
Ver. 7. Again. The sea furnishes vapours, &c. Homer (Il. Ph.) expresses himself in the same manner.
↑ 7Ecclesiastes 1:8
Ver. 8. Hearing. In all sciences there are many difficulties. If a man had arrived at perfect knowledge, his researches would cease.
↑ 8Ecclesiastes 1:10
Ver. 10. New. Such vicissitudes have occurred before, though we must not infer that the world is eternal; or that there have been many others before this, as Origen would suppose. Prin. iii. 5.
&c. C. --- Men's souls, which are created daily, are nevertheless of the same sort as Adam's was; and creatures proceed from others of the same species, which have been from the beginning. S.
Tho. p. 1. q. 73. W. --- Natural and moral things continue much the same. M.
↑ 10Ecclesiastes 1:11
Ver. 11. Things. Otherwise we should read of similar events to those which we behold. The same cause naturally produces the same effect.
↑ 11Ecclesiastes 1:12
Ver. 12. Israel. This was the case with none of Solomon's descendants. C.
↑ 12Ecclesiastes 1:14
Ver. 14. Vexation. Heb. also, "food of wind;" (Sym.) or "choice of the spirit."
Sept. People are eager to become learned, and yet find no satisfaction. H. ---
All natural things are insufficient to procure felicity. W.
O Curas hominum! O quantum est in rebus inane! Persius.
↑ 14Ecclesiastes 1:15
Ver. 15. Perverse. Habitual and obstinate sinners. C. --- Fools, who follow the broad road. H.
--- Heb. and Sept. "the defect cannot be numbered." We know not to what a height the soul of man might have risen, if he had continued faithful.
↑ 15Ecclesiastes 1:16
Ver. 16. Learned. Solomon was blessed both with a natural genius, which he improved by study, and also he had the gift of supernatural wisdom. Yet he declares that all is vanity and pain.
↑ 16Ecclesiastes 1:17
Ver. 17. Errors. Sept. "parables and science." But to discern the mistakes of men is a part of wisdom, (C.) and Grabe substitutes "wanderings," instead of
"parables," after Theodot. as Heb.
ealluth (H.) means "errors," (C.) or "follies." Mont.
↑ 17Ecclesiastes 1:18
Ver. 18. Labour. He is bound to do more for heaven, as he is convinced of his own defects, and of the strict judgments of God. Wisdom is not true happiness, but the means to obtain it. W. ---
The more a person knows, the more he is convinced of his own ignorance, (C.) and filled with grief, that wisdom should be so much concealed. S. Jer. ---
Those who are learned, feel indignant that their disciples should be so dull. M.
↑ 18License: Notes by Fr. George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), from the Douay-Rheims Bible with Haydock's commentary (first ed. Thomas Haydock, Manchester/Dublin, 1811–1814; New York: Edward Dunigan & Brother, 1859); New Testament notes compiled with Fr. Benedict Rayment. Public domain. Digital text: "The Haydock Bible", Internet Archive (archive.org/details/TheHaydockBible), uploaded 2011 under the Public Domain Mark. · Credits and licenses