The Strand Study Bible

ECCLESIASTES 3:22

ECCLESIASTES 5:8

1014

Step #4 to better living – Learn to enjoy prudence, not prestige

the beast that goeth downward to the earth? P 22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better , than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him? Ecclesiastes 4 Better off dead? Date Written - c. 970 BC/AM 3030 1 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. 2 1 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. 3 Yea, better is he than 2 both they, 3 which hath not yet been, who hath not seen 4 the evil work that is done under the sun. The workaholic (vs 4) and the lazy man (vs 5) 4 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this 5 a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit. 5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and 6 eateth his own flesh. 6 7 Better is an handful with 8 quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit. 7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. 8 There is 9 one alone, and there is not a 10 second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. Step #3 to better living – Learn to enjoy unity, not discord (that is, we are to learn to be at peace with one another) 9 11 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

1. Job 3:11,17-18 2. or, “ both the oppressed and the oppressor” 3. or, “ which hasn’t even been born yet” 4. or, “ the evil work of oppression and oppressing” 5. that is, “ a man , i.e., a workaholic; one who works hard for a living and is envied for his success” 6. or, “starves to death” 7. Prov 17:1 8. II Thess 3:10-12 & Jms 1:19 9. or, “without partner or family” 10. or, “companion” 11. Prov 18:22 & 19:14 12. Psa 37:16 & Prov 15:16 & 16:8,16 & I Tim 6:6 & Eccl 3:12 & 7:5 & 9:16, 18 & 12:13 13. that is, “the youth that is teachable” 14. that is, “the current king” 15. or, “next generation” 16. that is, “be attentive” – Lev 19:30 17. or, “a vow you do not keep” 18. Prov 10:19 19. that is, “a dream to succeed” 20. or, “hard work” 21. Psa 66:13-14 22. or, “Christ” - Exo 23:20-23 & Isa 63:9 & Dan 3:25-28 23. or, “ that it was a sin of ignorance” – Num 15 & Prov 20:25 & Jere 4:2 24. Eccl 12:13

13 12 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. 14 For out of prison 13 he cometh to reign; whereas also 14 he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. 15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the 15 second child that shall stand up in his stead. 16 There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit. Ecclesiastes 5 Be swift to hear and slow to speak Date Written - c. 970 BC/AM 3030 1 16 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the 17 sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. 2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words 18 be few. 3 For 19 a dream cometh through 20 the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words. 4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, 21 defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Step #5 to better living – Learn to enjoy saying less, not more (that is, we are to learn to enjoy our life by talking less) 5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. 6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the 22 ANGEL , 23 that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? Focusing on temporal success is always a poor choice (Lk 12:16-21) 7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but 24 fear thou God. The passion for gain always creates injustice at every level of the social order

8 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment 3:22a Intellect ( I perceive ) within a man is what separates him from the instinct within a beast. Unlike men, animals cannot sit