1Exhortations to charitableness. 7Death ought to be remembered in life, 9and the day of judgment in the days of youth.
1CAST1 thy bread 2upon the waters: for 3thou shalt find it 4after many days.
1 That is, do well unto everyone, both to those whom you know and also to those whom you do not know.
2 Hebr. upon the face of the waters. Understand by the waters, the poor, who have nothing wherewith to recompense a man again, so that it seems to be lost whatever is given unto them. So we are likewise used to say: It is all one, as if it were cast into the water or thrown into the sea.
3 That is, God will restore it unto you again, yea, oftentimes also the man himself unto whom long before you have shown some kindness or relief.
4 Hebr. after multitude of days, that is, after many days or years are expired.
25Give a portiona to 6seven, and also to eight; 7for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
5 Namely, your alms or your bread.
a 2 Cor. 9:10.
6 A certain number for an uncertain, as Prov. 6:16; Micah 5:4. So is likewise the following word eight to be understood. Christ says: Give to every man that asketh, Luke 6:30. Compare Deut. 15:7, 8.
7 As if he would say: The time may come that you shall be bereaved of all that you have, and be made a beggar. Then shall you wish that others would afford you liberal assistance. Do then likewise so unto others. See Luke 16:9; Gal. 6:9.
38If the clouds be full of rain, they 9empty themselves upon the earth: and 10if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.
8 Intimating, that the rich ought to show plentifully their liberality unto the poor, as the rain plentifully waters the dry ground without distinction of places or fields. God causes His rain to fall on the evil as well as on the good.
9 Or, pour down.
10 The sense is: As a tree that once falls or is felled rises not again nor bears anymore fruit, so likewise, when we are once dead, be it in what state or condition so ever according to the soul, we shall not rise again to enter again into this temporal life, so that after we are dead, we shall not be able to give or communicate anything unto the poor, and therefore we ought to do good while we are yet alive. See Gal. 6:10.
4He 11that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
11 Solomon wants to say: He who minds wind and weather too curiously, and from time to time still looks for better weather, not intending to sow till he has the weather entirely according to his mind; he will not easily fall upon on the work of sowing, but shall neglect the most suitable sowing-season; so likewise he, who in harvest time or in the time of reaping regards wind and weather too much, will neglect also the seasonable time and opportunity of reaping. Some apply these words to the distribution of alms thus: So likewise, if a man would think of all changes and alterations of times too scrupulously as if he would think that he himself might grow poor, etc., or if he would think of the unworthiness and unthankfulness of the poor, etc., he will never give alms, and by doing so, he will never do what he ought to do.
5Asb12thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how 13the bonescdo grow 14in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou 15knowest not the works of God 16who maketh all.
b John 3:8.
12 Namely, from where it comes and to where it goes, how long and how mightily it will blow out of one part or corner of the world, John 3:8.
13 By the bones here must be understood the entire mass or fruit, or the child in the mother’s womb.
c Psalm 139:15, 16.
14 Hebr. of a full woman.
15 That is, you do not know, neither can know, the government of God nor understand or apprehend what He in His most wise counsel has decreed; how long you shall have and keep your goods. Therefore leave your unnecessary and unprofitable care, and do good unto the poor, as long as God grants you life and power to do it.
16 Or, which he doth unto or with all.
617In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening 18withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not 19whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be 20alike good.
17 That is, early.
18 Namely, from sowing, or from casting the seed into the ground.
19 That is, whether that will grow which you have sown in the evening or whether that will grow better which you have sown in the morning.
20 Hebr. as one, that is, alike good.
7 ¶ 21Truly 22the light 23is sweet, and a 24pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:
21 Or, Moreover, or, Surely. As if he said: It is true indeed, etc.
22 That is, this temporal life, that a man may behold the light of the sun.
23 That is, it is pleasing and acceptable unto man.
24 Or, a good thing it is.
8But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember 25the days of darkness; for they shall be many. 26All that cometh 27is vanity.
25 That is, let him remember death; for, the dead are laid in the grave, where there is darkness.
26 That is, whatsoever has befallen him.
27 He has to acknowledge that there is nothing permanent and perpetual in this life, wherein a man may fully rejoice.
9¶Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart 28cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and 29walk in the ways of thine heart, and 30in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring 31thee into judgment.
28 Hebr. do thee good.
29 That is, do whatever your heart desires, and whatsoever is pleasing and acceptable in your eyes. From these words it appears plainly that Solomon does not speak here in good earnest, but ironically or by way of derision against those who speak and mean what is here mentioned in good earnest, namely, that youthful years ought or may be spent in pleasures and delights. In Num. 15:39 God forbids to walk in the ways of the heart.
30 That is, in all that is pleasing and delightful to your eyes, follow that freely; take your pleasure in this life.
31 As if he said: You will be unwilling to come thither, but God will make you come to give an account of all that you have spoken and have done. See Eccl. 12:14.
10Therefore remove 32sorrow from thy heart, and put away 33evil 34from thy flesh: for childhood and 35youth 36are vanity.
32 Under the term sorrow he comprehends all evil motions of the heart, which do disturb or disquiet it when they are exhorted to forsake pleasures and delights and to embrace the fear of God. Others understand by sorrow, sin which provokes the wrath of God against men. Other, grief, trouble, wrath.
33 That is, all manner of evil concupiscence and evil lusts or sins.
34 That is, from your body. See Rom. 6:13; 1 Cor. 6:15.
35 The word which is used in the Hebrew text signifies properly the morning or break of day. Youth or childhood is as the morning of a person’s life. The morning is soon gone, the day passes swiftly by, and then presently night follows wherein none can work.
36 In regard it is transitory, passing soon away, and full of folly.