Ecclesiastes 8

An exhortation to yield all due obedience to the King, or to the Magistrate, v.2,&c. That man should not be much troubled at approaching evil, 6. Next he relateth yet some other vanities of this life; as namely, how subjects are oppressed by evil Magistrates, 9. That many men continue in sin, because they are not presently punished, 11. However, they shall not escape punishment, 12. Though oftentimes the godly are afflicted, and the wicked prosper in this world, 14. Thereupon he concludeth, that it is best in this life for a man to enjoy the gifts of God with cheerfulness, 15. Laying aside the necessary and superfluous care for the things of this life, 16.

1. WHO is like the wise? [Divers, both Hebrew and also other translations join the first words of this verse to the last verse of the seventh chapter] and who knoweth the interpretation of things? [As if he said, it is most certain, that a wise man excelleth all other men in worth and dignity, because he can interpret and answer all things well, and upon good grounds] the wisdom of men lighteneth his face; [that is, it maketh him courteous and friendly. Oth. It giveth him the light of knowledge, so that he seeketh very plainly and distinctly, how he ought to walk and what he ought to do, or to leave undone, see above, ch.2.14,] and the surlinesse [or cruelty. Heb. Strength or hardness] of his face is changed (thereby). [to wit, by wisdom; that is, he layeth the fiercenesse or cruelty aside, which commonly appeareth, and is seen in the face. See Deuterom.28.50. and Judges 14:14. and the Annotations there.]

2. I (say) give heed to [Hebr. Keep. It is a short abrupt phrase] the mouth of the King; [that is, that which the King saith, or that which he commandeth thee. The word, mouth, signifieth often a sentence, or words: and signifieth often commands or precepts, as Exod.17.1. compare, Prov.24.21.] but according to the nature of the oath of God. [that is, obey the King or the magistrate so, as that in the mean while thou forsake not, nor forget the duty and oath whereby thou art principally bound and ingaged unto God. Oth. In regard of the oath of God, or because of the oath of God, or the oath of Gods sake.]

3. Make no hast to go away from his [To wit, the Kings] face; [to wit, through impatience, when he enjoyneth thee somewhat that peaseth thee not; bewraying by thy speedy going away, that thou art loth to do that which the King injoineth thee. Oth. To go away, that is, to depart from his service, and to leave him. [Some understand this and that which followeth, of God] persist not in an evil thing; [that is, maintain not a bad cause, stand not out in it, plead not for it. See the annotate. 2 Kings 23. On ver.3. or do not obstinately persist in refusing to obey the Kings command] for he doth whatsoever pleaseth him, [to wit, the King, so that whensoever he pleaseth, he be avenged on thee, and when he is once angered, he will soon punish thee.]

4. Where the word [That is, the command] of a King is, there is dominion; and who shall say unto him, what doest thou? [that is, why doest thou enjoin me this? The meaning is, when once the King commandeth his servants to punish thee, who dare oppose or with-stand his power and swaying authority.]

5. Whoso keepeth the Commandment, [to wit, the commandment or precepts of the King, which is not repugnant to the will and commandment of God] shall feel no evil; [that is, he shall not incure the displeasure and punishment of God, or of the King, or of the Magistrate. Compare Romans 13:3. Heb. Shall not know (both) time and manner. [that is, a wise man knoweth how to fit and frame himself to every occasion or opportunity he meeteth with, so as not to offend either God or the King.]

6. For every purpose hath time and manner: Because the evil of man is much over him. [that is, man is subject to much misery and infirmity, therefore he ought to be wise and prudent in his affairs.]

7. For he knoweth not what shall cometh to passé: for who shall certify him, when [Or how] how it shall come to pass? [that is, he knoweth not what God will do to him, as he like wise knoweth not the time when: and therefore he cannot prevent it. Therefore he ought continually to beg to God, an holy prudence, that he may know how to behave himself aright, compare above, ch.6.12.]

8. There is no man that hath dominion over the Spirit, [To wit, when death seizeth upon man] to keep the spirit in; [that is, to keep the breath, or the soul, or the spirit of life in the body, that it should not depart out of it. The Hebrew word signifieth as much as to shut and keep in a prison] neither hath any dominion over the day of death: [or, in the day of death: [or, in the day of death. That is, when death cometh to assault life, and that once the day of death is come, there is no way or means to escape death, compare Job 14:5. and Psal. 39.6.] also (there is) no weapon [that is, carnal weapons. Oth. No discharge] in this battle, [that is, when life and death strive together, or fight one against another] neither shall wickedness deliver its masters. [as we commonly say, iniquity or justice, smiteth its own master. Oth. The disquiet stir; as if he had said, that a man at one time that intendeth this thing, at another time that thing, and is very busy and restless to attain to his intent and purpose, this likewise will not avail or profit him against death.]

9. All these have I seen, when I applied mine heart unto all (or every) work that is under the Sun. There is a time that (one) man ruleth over (another) man, to his (own) hurt. [to wit, either to the hurt of him that ruleth, or of him over whom he ruleth. Or, (I saw also) a time, wherein, &c. To wit, when an unrighteous or unjust man is advanced into the place of authority, and swayeth the sceptre; whereas those that execute that office, ought chiefly and above all to seek the good and welfare of their subjects, Romans 13:4.]

10. So have I seen the wicked that were buried, [That is, that were put in oblivion] and (those that) came and went out of the place of the holy, they were forgotten in that City (in) which they had done judgment; [understand here by the place of the holy one, the Temple, wherein the holy God dwelleth. To come, or to enter in, and to go forth, is as much here as converse, or to be conversant in the house of God, and to exercise ones self in godlinesse. Others understand here by the holy place the place of Judicature, where the judges sit in Gods room or place, and represent the person of god, God being there present with them, yea bring president in the midst of them. oth. Understand this verse of the wicked, and render it thus; and then I saw the wicked, that they were buried and perished, and went away from the place of the holy, and were forgotten in the City wherein they had done so: that is, had governed wickedly] This [to wit, this inconsistency and unthankfulness of the people] is also vanity.

11. Because judgment (concerning) an evil deed is not speedily done, therefore the heart of the children of men is full in them to do evil. [As if he had said, because God often delayeth his righteous judgment concerning the wicked, therefore they conceive that they shall always remain unpunished, and therefore they fall to all manner of wickedness and profaneness, compare Psal.50. on v.21.]

12. Though a sinner do evil an hundred (times), and (God) prolong his (dayes) yet I know surely that it shall go well with those that fear God, [To wit, with a fillal or child-like fear] that fear before his face. [that are said to offend him, see Psal. 37.9,10,11,12,18,19,20. Prov.1.33. Isa.3.10.]

13. But it shall not go well with the wicked, [Understand withal, but he shall be punished at last, either here or hereafter] neither shall he prolong (his) dayes: [that is, he shall not live long, at least in quietnesse, and with a good conscience, which is true life indeed] he shall be as a shadow, [which soon passeth away, see Psalms 144:4. oth. He shall not prolong his dayes, as a shadow; which becomes long towards the Sun-setting as the Sun declineth or goeth down] because he feareth not before the face of God.

14. There is (yet) a vanity which is done upon the earth: That there are just men unto whom it happeneth, [Heb. Toucheth, hitteth] according to the work of the wicked, [That is, as if they had done the works of wicked men] and there are wicked men unto whom it happeneth, according to the work of righteous. [the meaning is, sometimes it fareth ill with the godly, and well with the wicked. See Psam. 73.11,12,13,14.] I say [or, I said,] that this is also vanity. [to wit, because no man can be assured, that he shall always prosper in this world, because of this virtue and piety. Oth. This is also vanity; that is, this is a vain and absurd thing, according to thing judgment of man.]

15. Therefore I commended mirth, because a man hath nothing better under the Sun, [That is, as much as concerneth this temporal life] then to eat, and drink and to be merry; [but so as that he always have the fear of God before his eyes. See below, chap.12 verse 13. Compare above, chap.2.24. and 3.12,22. And 5.18. and 9.7.] for that shall cleave unto him of his labour, [that is, that shall be his portion] the dayes of his life which God giveth him under the Sun.

16. When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to consider the business is done upon the earth, that a man neither by day, nor by night seeth sleep with his eyes; [That is, sleepeth not, to wit, by reason of care and trouble, which a man hath and undergoeth, for and about temporal riches. See above. Chap.2.vers.23.24.]

17. Then I beheld all the work of God; that a man cannot find out [To wit, by his own wit or understanding] the work that is done under the Sun: [to wit, gods providence concerning the things that are done in the world, as namely, how this can stand with the righteous government of god, to punish the holy oftentimes so severely, ad on the contrary, to blesse the wicked so exceedingly] to seek which (out0 [that is, to understand which thing; to wit, to know how all things in the world are wisely and prudently governed by God] a man laboureth, but he shall not find it out; yea, if a wise man also should say, [to wit, with himself in his heart] that he knew it, yet (surely) he shall not be able to find it out.