Ecclesiastes—surely the words of Solomon when he was a disillusioned old man, and yet there is still wisdom and realism in his teachings. And in the end, we can profit from his final conclusion (Ecclesiastes 12:14).
Eccl 1:1 “The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.”
All is Vanity
What does anything we do matter? Humans come and go, but the earth endures forever. The Sun rises & sets, the wind blows in its course, the rivers run into the sea which is never full.
Everything requires work, and the senses are never satisfied.
Everything’s been done before, there’s nothing new. Nothing you do is ever remembered.
I was King over Israel and I set myself to learn everything through Wisdom. God has given that work to us. But I have seen all that’s done, and everything is useless and vexing. You can’t really solve any problems. I’ve become a great man, more wise and knowledgeable than any before me. I set myself to know what’s wise and what’s foolish, and it’s all vexing and full of grief. The more you know, the more sorrow it brings.
Eccl 2
So I set myself to just enjoy pleasure. But that’s also meaningless. I thought I could learn what pursuits are worthwhile for mankind. I built great buildings and gardens. I had great possessions, more than any before me in Jerusalem. I was wealthy. I could have whatever I wanted. But it was all meaningless.
I turned to discern wisdom from folly & madness. I saw that wisdom was better as light is better than darkness. A wise man is enlightened, while a fool walks in the dark. And yet the same things happen to them both. No one remembers a wise man any more than a fool. I hated life, because it was all vexing and worthless. Whatever I could accomplish would be left to those after me, and who knows whether they’ll be wise or fools. I despaired of all I had done. God gives us our lot in life, and He knows best. What can a person do? “God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.”
Eccl 3 " To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven . . . “ one of the great solaces of life: that you don’t have to take everything on at once, and when times are tough, remember ‘this too shall pass’.
Eccl 4
Then I set myself to understand the oppressions and sorrows of life. It seemed like it was better to be dead for all the evils of life. Whatever a person accomplishes, just brings the envy of others.
Those who are alone, without family, work for no purpose. Two can work as a team and support one another, keep one another warm at night [a reason for marriage and family].
But in life, people of the lowest estate rise, and those of the highest fall. The earth is full of people, and they die unremembered. It’s all meaningless.
A gem from Eccl 4:
“Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.”
Eccl 5
When you go to the house of God, be ready to listen.
Don’t speak or judge rashly. Use few words.
When you promise something to God, be sure to carry through with it.
If you see injustice and oppression don’t be surprised. God is above all, and knows. Everyone, even the king, is dependent on agriculture [implying all depend on God for the conditions suitable for life]. No one is ever satisfied with their wealth, it’s never enough. And the more wealth, the more people to feed. For a laborer, sleep is sweet. A rich man never sleeps in peace. His heirs squander it. We come into life with nothing, and leave it with nothing. Better to use one’s wealth for the good of others, and to enjoy the wealth God has given.
Eccl 6
It’s common that though God give a person riches, another ends up enjoying them. A person may have lots of children, and live a long life, yet in the end “What hath the wise more than the fool?” Who knows what comes next?
Eccl 7
Gem: “A good name is better than precious ointment”
It’s better to be sorrowful than full of laughter, for we all end up in mourning. We learn wisdom from what we suffer. Patience is better than pride. It’s foolish to be quick to anger. Both wisdom and money are defenses, but whatever God causes, no one can make it different. Enjoy prosperity, but when adversity comes, consider that it is also from God. I have seen a good man in troubles, and a wicked man living long in wickedness. Don’t be extreme in your own righteousness and wisdom, nor in wickedness and foolishness [be moderate]. Be wise, none of us are perfect. Be careful what you say, your servants know what you really are.
I said I would be wise, but found that I was far from it. I set myself to know wisdom and foolishness. I found that a conniving woman can cause more bitterness than death. God is pleased with those that escaper her wiles.
Eccl 8
A wise man’s face shines (his wisdom/goodness shows in in countenance). He keeps the king’s commandment, as he has vowed before God to do. Don’t be quick to work wickedness behind the king's back. There’s no questioning the king. Obedience to the king protects you from evil. A wise man understands both timing and judgment.
Mankind is miserable because he doesn’t know the future. None have power over death. Wickedness can’t cheat death.
I have sought to understand everything done under the sun, and I’ve seen that sometimes a person can hurt himself by ruling another. I’ve seen wicked men buried and their wickedness forgotten. I’ve seen that the consequences of wickedness are not always quickly recompensed, so people think they can get away with whatever. Yet no matter how long a person gets away with evil, God knows and respects those that fear Him.
Good people suffer as if they were wicked, and wicked people seem to be blessed as if they were good. I said, That’s meaningless! So I figured you might as well eat, drink, and be merry and enjoy whatever life God gives you. When I tried to understand it all, I found that nobody can understand God’s decisions and doings.
Eccl 9
I came to believe, and to speak this: the Righteous and the Wise are in the hands of God. Everyone is subject to the same things in life, no matter their choices. (Jesus said that God makes the sun to shine on the just and the unjust.) The hearts of mankind are full of evil all their lives.
As long as you are living, there is hope. Even a living dog is better than a dead lion. Once dead, a person and his passions are forgotten. So go and enjoy life, for God accepts what you do. Live a clean life. “Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life . . .” Whatever you do in life, put real effort into it. And yet I saw “the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.” Just like fish caught in the net, birds caught in a snare, people can be caught in bad times/situations.
14 There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:
15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.Eccl 10
Verses 1-3 contrast the wise and the foolish.
If a ruler turns against you, don’t walk out of your position, yield & make peace with him. Rulers can promulgate errors, may give dignity to the foolish, elevate the low and humiliate princes. But those who dig a pit for others will fall into it. Wisdom is like using a sharp tool to get things done, instead of a dull one.
Verses 11-15 continue to contrast the wise and the foolish.
“Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child . . . Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!”
Through laziness a building decays.
A feast and drinking brings laughter and merriment, but having money takes care of everything. [Don’t neglect your business.]
Don’t curse the king or the rich, because word gets to them eventually.
Eccl 11
“Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.” In other words, put what you have out there, and it will come back to you increased.
Share what you have, because you don’t know what the future holds. If you are too afraid of conditions, you won’t accomplish anything [won’t reap because you haven’t sown]. You don’t know any more about God’s works [intents & purposes], than the mystery of life beginning in the womb. Do the best you can to succeed. Though you live many years in the pleasant light of the sun, eventually there will be dark days. Enjoy your youth, yet know that God will judge you. Childhood and youth are full of vanity [worthless foibles and pursuits].
Eccl 12
“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth . . . [before dark days come] . . . Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it [then life is over]. Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.“ Though life seems meaningless, because the preacher, King Solomon, was wise, he still taught the people. He sought and gathered and organized many proverbs. He sought for words of truth. The words of the wise can goad people into doing what’s right.
My son, learn this: there’s no end to the writing of books, and constant study can make you weary. “ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” It might not happen in this life, but all will put right in the end.
The introduction, Proverbs 1:1, says that these are the Proverbs of Solomon. Yet my latest reaction was that they sound more like David (having learned something of life, some perhaps through sad experience, some perhaps through seeing the follies of others) teaching his son Solomon . . . the instruction about relationships with women, in particular. David, of course, also had several wives, at least some were political marriages. But Solomon had a lot of wives, many of them no doubt political, and they became his downfall in respect to God, at the end. Of course these Proverbs may have been written early in his reign when he was more wise than at the end. Ecclesiastes sounds more like the older man/King Solomon.
Intro to the Proverb--their Purpose: Proverbs 1:1-6
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.Interesting to note:
Prov 25:1 "These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out."
Prov 30 (verse 1) "The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal"
Prov 31 (verse 1) "The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him."
Commentaries about Lemuel at https://biblehub.com/commentaries/proverbs/31-1.htmJesus obviously knew the Proverbs well, and referenced them, such as Prov 25:7 "For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen."
Following is an incomplete categorization of the Proverbs.
Proverbs about wisdom/knowledge
Proverbs 1:7-9, 20-33
Proverbs 2:1-11
Proverbs 3:13-24, 35
Proverbs 4:5-13
Proverbs 5:1-2
Proverbs 7:4-5
Proverbs 9:1-12
Proverbs 10:1, 5, 8, 13-14, 19, 23, 31
Proverbs 11:2, 9, 12, 14-15, 29-30
Proverbs 12:1, 8, 15-16, 23
Proverbs 13:1, 7-8, 10, 15-16, 18, 20, 23
Proverbs 14:1, 3, 6-9, 15-18, 24, 33, 35
Proverbs 15:2, 5, 7, 12, 14, 20-22, 24, 31-33
Proverbs 16:14, 16, 20-23
Proverbs 17:2, 10, 24, 27-28
Proverbs 18:1, 4, 15
Proverbs 19:2, 8, 20-21, 25, 27
Proverbs 20:5, 15, 18, 26
Proverbs 21:11-12, 20, 22, 30
Proverbs 22:3, 17-21
Proverbs 23:12, 15, 19, 23-24
Proverbs 24:3-7, 13-14, 23
Proverbs 27:11-12
Proverbs 28:2, 5, 7, 26
Proverbs 29:3, 8
Proverbs 30:2-4, 18-19, 24-28
Proverbs about sin/corruption
Proverbs 1:10-19
Proverbs 2:12-19, 22 (both men & women will lead one astray)
Proverbs 4:14-17, 19
Proverbs 5:3-14, 20-23 be wary of a wicked woman
Proverbs 6:6-19, 24-35 laziness, frowardness, 7 abominations, whorish woman, adultery
Proverbs 7:6-27 dangers of a wanton woman
Proverbs 9:13-18 foolish wanton woman
Proverbs 10:1-32 contrasting righteous/wicked, wise/foolish
Proverbs 11:7, 22
Proverbs 11 (much of the chapter contrasting the consequences of the righteous & unrighteous)
Proverbs 12 (contrasting the righteous/wise to the wicked/foolish)
Proverbs 13 continues as above
Proverbs 14 continues the same
Proverbs 15 ditto
Proverbs 16 similarly...
Proverbs 16:27-30 froward, violent, divisive
Proverbs 17:4-5, 11, 13, 15, 20, 23, 26
Proverbs 18:3, 5, 12
Proverbs 19:2, 5, 9, 28-29
Proverbs 20:10, 21, 23, 25
Proverbs 21:4, 6-8, 10, 13, 15, 16, 18, 24, 26-29
Proverbs 22:5, 8, 10, 14, 16, 22-25
Proverbs 23:6-8, 17, 26-28, 33
Proverbs 24:1-2, 8-9, 15, 24
Proverbs 25:18
Proverbs 26:23-28
Proverbs 28:1, 17-19
Proverbs 29:5-7, 10, 16
Proverbs 30:20
Proverbs about human nature
Prov 17:16-17
Prov 18:23
Prov 19:4, 6-7
Prov 20:6, 9, 11, 14, 17, 19, 24, 29
Prov 21:2
Prov 27:1-8, 20-21
Prov 28:11-14
Prov 29:1, 19-27
Prov 30:10-16, 21-23
Prov 30:32-33
Proverbs about fools, being lazy, pleasure seeking, drunkenness, greed, materialism
Prov 17:7, 10, 12, 16, 18, 21, 24-25, 28 fools
Prov 18:2, 6-7, 13 fools
Prov 18:9 laziness
Prov 19:1, 3, 10, 29 fools
Prov 19:15, 24 laziness
Prov 20:1 drunkenness
Prov 20:3 fools
Prov 20:4, 13 laziness
Prov 21:17, 20, 25 laziness, pleasure seeking, fools
Prov 22:13 laziness
Prov 23:1-5 pleasure/riches seeking
Prov 23:9 fools
Prov 23:20-21, 29-35 pleasure seeking, drunkenness
Prov 24:30-34
Prov 26:1-12 fools, 13-16 slothful
Prov 27:3, 22
Prov 28:20, 22
Prov 29:9, 11
Proverbs about Righteousness
Proverbs 2:20-21Walk in good & righteous paths
Proverbs 3:1-12 Keep commandments, Trust in the Lord and honor Him (even with substance)
Proverbs 3:25-34 Treat others right; benefits to those who do right
Proverbs 4:1-4, 20-27 Don't forget the instruction of a wise/caring parent
Proverbs 5:15-19 be faithful to the wife of your youth (Perhaps Solomon had a wife of his youth before the Egyptian princess &
further entanglements with women; perhaps he had learned some of his wisdom the hard way)
Proverbs 6:1-5, 20-23 be careful of financial entanglements, remember parents' teachings
Proverbs 7:1-3 remember parent's instructions/warnings
Proverbs 10:1-32 contrasting righteous/wicked, wise/foolish
Proverbs 11 (much of the chapter contrasting the consequences of the righteous & unrighteous)
Proverbs 12 (contrasting the righteous/wise to the wicked/foolish)
Proverbs 13 continues as above
Proverbs 14 continues the same
Proverbs 15 ditto
Proverbs 16 similarly...
Proverbs 17:7 honesty
Proverbs 18:10, 12, 20, 22
Proverbs 19:1, 16-17, 23
Proverbs 20:7, 22
Proverbs 20:30 Justice
Proverbs 21:3, 5, 8, 15, 21, 26
Proverbs 22:1 reputation
Proverbs 22:4, 9, 11, 19, 28-29
Proverbs 23:10-11, 16-18
Proverbs 24:16-22, 27-29
Proverbs 25:16, 26-28
Proverbs 27:23-27
Proverbs 28:1, 17-19
Proverbs 29:5-7, 10
Proverbs 30:5-9
Prov 31:10-31 a virtuous woman
Proverbs about home/family/parenting
Prov 17:1-2, 6, 21, 25
Prov 19:13-14, 18, 26
Prov 20:20
Prov 21:9, 19
Prov 22:6, 15
Prov 23:13-14, 22-26
Prov 25:24
Prov 28:7, 24
Prov 29:3, 15, 17
Prov 30:11, 17, 23
Prov 31:10-31 a virtuous woman
Proverbs about social interactions
Prov 17:1, 8, 9, 14, 17, 19, 22, 27, 28
Prov 18:8, 16-19, 21, 23-24
Prov 19:4, 6-7, 11-12, 19, 22
Prov 20:2-3, 16, 19
Prov 21:14, 23
Prov 24:24-26
Prov 25:8-25
Prov 26:17-22
Prov 27:5-10, 14-19
Prov 28:3-10, 21-28
Prov 30:32-33
Proverbs about the nature of God
Prov 17:3, 15
Prov 20:12, 24, 27
Prov 21:2, 12, 31
Prov 22:2, 12, 22-23
Prov 23:10-11
Prov 24:11-12, 17-18
Prov 25:2, 21-22
Prov 29:13
Prov 30:5
Proverbs referencing rulers
Prov 17:7
Prov 19:6, 12
Prov 20:2, 8, 26, 28
Prov 21:1
Prov 22:11
Prov 25:2-7, 15
Prov 28:2, 15-16
Prov 29:2, 4, 12, 14
Prov 30:29-
Prov 31:3-9
Misc Proverbs
Prov 18:11, 14 strength
Prov 24:10 strength
Prov 22:7, 26-27 finances
What are the main themes of Proverbs?Wisdom vs FoolishnessRighteousness: obeys commandments/heeds parents, does good to others, is honest/truthful, works hard, speaks wisely/kindly, a virtuous woman, humility, merciful, compassionate, prudent, uplifts others, faithful/loyal, a peacemaker
Wickedness: tempts others to evil, deceitful/lying, takes advantage or ill treats others, angry/quick-tempered, an adulterous/enticing/seductive woman, seeks the fall/riches of others by entrapment/corruption/misuse of power, pride, cruel, premeditated evil, lazy/pleasure seeking/drunken, a scorner, envious, oppressive, causes shame on self/parents/nation, stirs up trouble, greedy
Consequences of choices
God takes care of the righteous, the poor & the oppressedSome additional highlights:
Prov 13:12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
Prov 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Prov 15:3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
Prov 15:4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
Prov 15:8-9 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
Prov 15:11 Hell and destruction are before the Lord: how much more then the hearts of the children of men? (God knows all)
Prov 15:13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Prov 15:17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
Prov 15:23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
Prov 16:2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.
Prov 16:24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
Prov 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. (luck/chance happen, by God's will)
Prov 17:1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
Prov 17:5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
Prov 17:10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
Prov 17:15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.
Prov 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Prov 18:8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Prov 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue
Prov 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Prov 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Prov 20:3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
Prov 21:3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
Prov 21:30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.
Prov 22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches
Prov 22:2 The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of them all.
Prov 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Prov 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he
Prov 24:1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
Prov 24:3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established
Prov 24:17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth
Prov 24:28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
Prov 24:29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
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