The Quest in the Golden Mean. The Method of the Man who pursues it. Ch.
7 All the labour of this man is for his mouth; Therefore his soul cannot be satisfied: 8 For what advantage hath the wise man over the fool, Or what the poor man over the stately magnate?
Ver. 8. The magnate. Literally, "he who knoweth to walk before the living;" some "great person," some man of eminent station, who is much in the eye of the public.
9 It is better, indeed, to enjoy the good we have Than to crave a good beyond our reach: Yet even this is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Ver. 9. To enjoy the good we have, etc. Literally, "Better is that which is seen by the eyes (the present good) than that which is pursued by the soul (the distant and uncertain good)."
10 That which hath been was long since ordained; And it is very certain that even the greatest is but a man, And cannot contend with Him who is mightier than he.
And much that he gains only feeds Vanity;
11 Moreover there are many things which increase vanity: What advantage then hath man?
Nor can he tell what will become of his Gains.
12 And who knoweth what is good for man in life, The brief day of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? And who can tell what shall be after him under the sun?
vii., vv. 1-14.
1 A good name is better than good nard,
And the day of death better than the day of one's birth:
2 It is better to go to the house of mourning
Than to the house of feasting,
Because this is the end of every man,
And the living should lay it to heart:
Ver. 2. "Because this is the end;" i.e. the death bewailed in the house of mourning.
3 Better is serious thought than wanton mirth, For by a sad countenance the heart is bettered: 4 The heart of the wise therefore is in the house of mourning, But in the house of mirth is the heart of fools. 5 It is better for a man to listen to the reproof of the wise Than to listen to the song of fools; 6 For the laughter of fools is like the crackling of thorns under a pot: This also is vanity.
Ver. 6. The laughter of fools, etc. There is a play on words in the original which cannot be reproduced in English. Dean Plumptre, following the lead of Delitzsch, proposes as the nearest equivalents, "As crackling nettles under kettles," or "As crackling stubble makes the pot bubble."
7 Wrong-doing maketh the wise man mad, As a bribe corrupteth the heart. 8 The end of a reproof is better than its beginning, And patience is better than pride; 9 Therefore hurry not on thy spirit to be angry: For anger is nursed in the bosom of fools. 10 Say not, "How is it that former days were better than these?" For that is not the part of wisdom. 11 Wisdom is as good as wealth, And hath an advantage over it for those who lead an active life:
Ver. 11. Those who lead an active life. Literally, "those who see the sun," i.e. those who are much in the sun, who lead a busy active life, are much occupied with traffic or public affairs.
12 For wisdom is a shelter,
And wealth is a shelter;
But the advantage of wisdom is
That it fortifieth the heart of them that have it.
Ver. 12. Fortifieth the heart; i.e. quickens life, a new life, a life which keeps the heart tranquil and serene under all chances and changes.
13 Consider moreover the work of God, Since no man can straighten that which He hath made crooked. 14 In the day of prosperity be thou content; And in the day of adversity Consider that God hath made this as well as that, In order that man should not be able to foresee that which is to come.
Ver. 14.: In the day of prosperity, etc. Literally, "in the day of good be in good." It may be rendered "in the good day be of good cheer." This as well as that; i.e. adversity as well as prosperity. God sends both in order that, not foreseeing what will come to pass, we may live in a constant and humble dependence on Him.