Ecclesiastes

Spoken by ‘Qoheleth’, which means something like ‘assembler’. Assembler of proverbs? To verb qahal usually means to assemble people together, however. ‘Qoheleth’ was translated into Greek as ‘Ecclesiastes’, meaning someone who was a member of a public assembly. Some sort of didact perhaps? When the related word ‘ekklesia’ came to denote the word ‘church’, ‘Qoheleth’ came to the understood as ‘the preacher’.

Ecclesiastes stands in an ironic relation to the genre it exemplifies, subsuming the sharp antitheses of Proverbs in observations that apply to all equally – eg death comes to both the foolish and the wise, and obliterates the distinction between the two.

Chapter 3 also subverts itself – the second half of that chapter says all the labour of a man yields no profit, which goes against the opening idea of a timely order that rewards patience.

Other parts of the book infer from the endless cycles of nature a dispiriting restlessness rather than a comforting predictability.

1

The words of the Preacher (Qoheleth), the son of David. Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher…all is vanity. Man passes, but the earth abides. The sun rises and sets, rivers run – all things are full of labour, and in a constant cycle – there is nothing new under the sun. All is vanity and vexation of spirit. The Preacher’s knowledge and wisdom has brought him to an understanding of folly and madness: in wisdom is much grief.


2

What good is laughter and mirth? He came to realise that all his earthly wealth and glory was vanity and vexation of spirit. Light excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness; however, asking himself why he was wise and others were fools is also a form of vanity. Noone will remember the wise man any more than the fool. He comes to hate his wealth, and resent that a man who has not laboured for it will receive it as his portion. We should eat and drink, because this is from the hand of God.


3

To everything there is a season – a time to be born, a time to die etc. A man should eat and drink, and rejoice in his own labour – this is a gift from God. Man will die, just a beasts do.


4

The Preacher considers the world’s oppression, envy and idlesness. The dead are to be envied. Solitary life is miserable, and a shared life happier. A poor and wise child is better than an old and foolish king. Popular favour is uncertain.


5

God is in heaven, and thou upon the earth. We should be faithful to our vows. The innocent are oppressed. The king is dependent on the produce of the soil. Against covetousness. The peaceful sleep of the honest labourer. The wvil effect of riches. Man cannot carry his property to the grave. We should thankfully enjoy the blessings of God.


6

The vanity of riches without the proper use of them. Having children and attaining a ripe old age is futile without riches and enjoyment. Man does not know what is good for him.


7

Sorrow is wise, and better than laughter. The fool’s joy is empty. Oppression is maddening. The end better than the beginning. Do not be hasty in spirit. Former days were better than the present, but wisdom is a defence against such thoughts. The just sometimes perish, and the wicked thrive. Be not over-wise, or over-righteous. Wisdom strengthens the wise. Man is liable to sin and mistake. We should guard our words. Wisdom is difficult to obtain. A bad woman is dangerous. There are few who are really upright.


8

A man's wisdom makes his face shine. Kings are to be greatly respected. A man who keeps the king’s commandment shall be protected. Man is miserable, and death is certain. One sometimes rules another to his own hurt. The wicked are buried and forgotten. God is longsuffering. It shall be ill with wicked men. There is no better things under the sun than to eat, drink and be merry. God's works cannot be found out.


9

No men knows, by any present sign, what is before him. All things happen alike to all. A licing dog is better than a dead lion. Enjoy God’s mercies, and live to his glory. The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong: time and chance happeneth to them all. Man is ignorant of futurity. The name of the poor wise man who saved his city is forgotten. The poor man’s wisdom is despised.


10

A little folly ruins a man of wisdom and folly like a fly in the ointment. Yielding before a ruler pacifieth offences. Merit is depressed, and worthlessness exalted. He who digs a pit will fall into it. A fool is full of words. Woe to the land that has an infant king. A court is well-regulated when the princes eat for strength, and not for drunkenness. Slothfulness causes decay. Do not speak evil of the king.


11

Give alms to all. The works of God are unknown to man. Diligence is necessary. Prosperity is frequently succeeded by adversity. There will be a day of judgment.


12

Youths should remember their Creator. A description of old age and its infirmities, with the causes of death and dissolution. The Preacher taught the people knowledge. Bookish study causes weariness. Keep God’s commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Fear God, for he shall bring every work to judgment.