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Ecclesiastes

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Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. See also: Ecclesiastes 3:16 Ecclesiastes 5:8 2 Timothy 4:16-17Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive. See also: Job 3:11-26 Ecclesiastes 2:17 Ecclesiastes 9:4-6Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. See also: Luke 23:29 Matthew 24:19 Ecclesiastes 6:3-5Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. See also: 1 John 3:12 Ecclesiastes 1:14 Ecclesiastes 2:21The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself. See also: Proverbs 6:10-11 Isaiah 9:20 Proverbs 13:4Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind. See also: Proverbs 15:16-17 Proverbs 16:8 Psalms 37:16Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun. See also: Ecclesiastes 4:1 Psalms 78:33 Zechariah 1:6There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then do I labor and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business. See also: 1 John 2:16 Proverbs 27:20 Luke 12:20Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. See also: Proverbs 27:17 Genesis 2:18 1 Corinthians 12:18-21For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift him up. See also: 1 Thessalonians 5:11 1 Thessalonians 4:18 Isaiah 35:3-4Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone? See also: 1 Kings 1:1-4If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. See also: Ephesians 4:3 Daniel 3:16-17Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more. See also: Proverbs 19:1 2 Chronicles 25:16 Proverbs 28:15-16For out of prison he came out to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor. See also: Genesis 41:14 Psalms 113:7-8 Lamentations 4:20I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him. See also: 2 Samuel 15:6There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was—yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind. See also: Ecclesiastes 1:14 1 Kings 1:40 Ecclesiastes 2:17

See also: Cross references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), derived in part from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Notes · Haydock (1859, public domain)14 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

Ecclesiastes 4:1

Ver. 1. Any. God suffereth the innocent to be oppressed for a time, that they may merit a greater reward. Ps. lxxii.

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Ecclesiastes 4:3

Ver. 3. Born. It is better to have no existence than to be in eternal misery. Matt.

xxvi. 24. But the affliction of the just procureth glory for them. W. --- The pagan sages observed, that it was

"best for mortals not to be born; and if they were, to die very soon." Chalcid.

and Theognis. ---

But they considered only temporal inconveniences. Religion has in view the danger of sin, and the desire of eternal happiness. Rom. vii. 24.

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Ecclesiastes 4:4

Ver. 4. Industries, or Heb. "righteous actions." If one be poor, he is in distress; if rich, he is exposed to envy; so that all is vanity. C.

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Ecclesiastes 4:5

Ver. 5. Flesh, which he will not labour to sustain; (H.) or he repines at his own past misconduct, and at the affluence of others.

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Ecclesiastes 4:6

Ver. 6. Mind. These are the words of the slothful, (C.) or of truth. H. Prov. xvii. 1.

--- The indolent will not observe moderation in the application of this sentence.

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Ecclesiastes 4:8

Ver. 8. Things? He acts as if he were to live for ever, or feared to be starved.

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Ecclesiastes 4:9

Ver. 9. Therefore is not in Heb. &c. The miser had better have some society. It is advantageous; though to refrain from its comforts, out of piety, is not blamed. The solitary must be "an angel or a devil." C. --- Society. Besides the advantages of friendship, this implies that a person must have Jesus Christ with him, that he may rise from sin and death by his assistance. S. Jer. W.

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Ecclesiastes 4:10

Ver. 10. Fall into sickness, poverty, or sin. The saints have withdrawn people from the dangers of the world into monasteries, where they may fight together against the devil.

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Ecclesiastes 4:12

Ver. 12. Cord. True charity increaseth in strength as it does in number, (S. Jer.

W.) though friendship may not admit of more than two persons. H. --- Some explain this triple cord of the blessed Trinity, or of the three monastic vows, the theological virtues, or the parts of penance, &c.

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Ecclesiastes 4:13

Ver. 13. Foolish. Great wisdom and prudence is required of kings; who, like others, are exposed to many vicissitudes.

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Ecclesiastes 4:14

Ver. 14. Prison. The exaltation of Joseph, Mardochai, and Daniel, was remarkable. C. --- Si fortuna volet, fies de Rhetore Consul. Juv. Sat. vii.

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Ecclesiastes 4:15

Ver. 15. Second heir. M. --- "They adore the rising (Papinius) more than the setting sun; (Plut.

Pomp.) and a person is no sooner on the throne than his successor begins to be courted: (v. 16.) so inconstant are mortals! C.

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Ecclesiastes 4:16

Ver. 16. In him. Many are perfectly unacquainted with the king, who finds so many admirers about his person, and even of these the greatest part begin to be presently disgusted, and wish for another change.

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Ecclesiastes 4:17

Ver. 17. Keep. Here many begin the fifth chap. as Solomon alters his style, and gives many important instructions. C. --- For. Heb. "rather than that fools should offer sacrifice, since they know not that they are doing wrong." Mont.

--- Do not imitate hypocrites, (H.) who have the appearance of sanctity, while they despise God's orders. Jer. vii. 2. C.

↑ 17

License: 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

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