训道篇

训道篇 9:1

Ver. 1. Of God. He seems to treat both alike, so that the just themselves cannot say whether their sufferings be a punishment or a trial. S. Jer. C. --- Knoweth not certainly, and in an ordinary manner. W. --- Hatred. Heb. and Sept. "yet love and hatred man knoweth not." H. --- Prosperity or adversity proves nothing. C.

--- Mortals cannot tell whether their afflictions tend to their greater improvement, like Job's, or they are in punishment of sin, like those of Pharao, and of the Egyptians. This they shall know after death. W. --- Yet the wicked know already that they are displeasing to God. Salmeron in 2 Cor. xii. "The just and...their works are in the hand of God, even love and hatred; men know not,"

&c. Dieu. Amama.

训道篇 9:2

Ver. 2. But. Heb. joins this with the preceding not, " by all that is before them.

All things come alike to all, there is one event to," &c. Prot. H. --- The pagans distinguished real goods and evils from those which were only apparent, like prosperity and adversity, which are determined only by the good or bad use. S.

Jer. --- Thus religion looks upon virtue and vice in the former light; and riches, poverty, &c. in the latter. It may be difficult to decide, whether, under adversity, the just have supported themselves better by virtue, or the wicked by vanity.

God will manifest the truth.

C. --- Perjured. Heb. and Sept. "swearer, so he that fears an oath." H.

训道篇 9:3

Ver. 3. Evil. People hence take occasion to indulge in vice, (C. viii. 14.) though the conduct of God be irreproachable. C. --- Shall. Heb. "they go to the dead."

H. --- Many think that these are the sentiments of the impious.

训道篇 9:4

Ver. 4. There. Even those who have had the vanity to claim divine honours, never could persuade themselves that they would escape death. But the just forms a different conclusion from the wicked. He looks upon his life only as a preparation for the other, (Heb. xi. 13. Eph. ii. 19.) while libertines make haste to enjoy the fleeting pleasure. Is. xxii. 13. To the former death seems desirable, (C. iv. 2. and vi. 3.) to the latter it is a subject of consternation; and he prefers the vilest creature living, to the most noble when dead. C. --- Heb. "for whosoever is chosen ( yebuchar.

Marg. yechubar, "is united") to all the living, has hope; for a," &c. H. ---

Moderns generally follow the marginal reading of the Masorets. C. --- "For who shall live for ever?" Sym. "Who partakes with all the living? There is hope."

Sept. H. --- During life alone the sinner may amend. C. ii. 3. The Gentiles are preferred before the Jews. W.

训道篇 9:5

Ver. 5. Know nothing more, viz. As to the transactions of this world, in which they have now no part, unless it be revealed to them; neither have they any knowledge or power now of doing any thing to secure their eternal state, (if they have not taken care of it in their lifetime) nor can they now procure themselves any good, as the living always may do, by the grace of God. Ch.

训道篇 9:7

Ver. 7. God. Be grateful to him, and make a good use of his benefits, (S. Jer.

exp. 2.) or these are the words of libertines. Boss. S. Jer. 1. explicat. C.

训道篇 9:8

Ver. 8. White. As in times of joy, and among people of quality. C. x. 17. Prov.

xxxi. 23. ---

Head. Our Saviour reproaches the Pharisees for neglecting this. Lu. vii. 45.

训道篇 9:9

Ver. 9. Wife. Some translate, "the woman," or harlot; as if the wicked still spoke.

训道篇 9:10

Ver. 10. Earnestly. Live in delights, or perform many good works. C. ii. 5. Our Lord seems to allude to this passage. What thou dost, do quickly. Jo. xiii. 27.

训道篇 9:11

Ver. 11. All. Thus it appears to the inattentive, and to the wicked. For Solomon frequently inculcates that Providence directs all wisely. Human industry is not always attended with success. Deut. xxix. 19. This is a fresh proof of the vanity of all things. C.

训道篇 9:12

Ver. 12. With. Heb. adds, "evil." Net, (Mont.) or hook. H. --- Them. They may use precautions; but, without God's aid, they will not succeed. Ps. cxxvi. 1. C.

训道篇 9:14

Ver. 14. And the siege, &c. Heb. has only "great bulwarks over or against it." H.

训道篇 9:15

Ver. 15. Afterward, is not in Heb. The poor man was unnoticed before. C. ---

Vulg. insinuates that he met with no return of gratitude, which is but too common; (H.) and this shews the vanity of the world.

训道篇 9:16

Ver. 16. Heard? Eccli. xiii. 28. Men are so unjust as to despise wisdom, if it be in a poor man.

The prudence of an individual has often saved cities, as was the case at Abela, and Bethulia; (2 K.

xx. 22. C.) and Syracuse was defended a long time by Archimedes against the whole Roman army. Plut. in Marcel.

训道篇 9:17

Ver. 17. Fools. Though the wise often meet with contempt, it is only among fools, who form the majority. C. --- Vain declaimers in the Church shew their own folly, as well as that of their hearers. S. Jer.

训道篇 9:18

Ver. 18. Things. A woman saved Abela; and Achan almost ruined Israel. Want of prudence in a general is often fatal. Virtues are connected, as well as vices.

C. --- For one transgression, many acts of virtue are lost. S. Jer.