13 Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. Ecclesiastes has been cited in the writings of past and current Catholic Church leaders. they pour out rain upon the earth. Ecclesiastes 4 - Then I looked again at all the acts of oppression which were being done under the sun. Solomon is speaking of the thoughts of his mind about this world, and the world to come. 13 Better was # [ch. No One Knows What Good Will Come. 12 * For the protection of wisdom is as the protection of money; and knowledge is profitable because wisdom gives life to those who possess it. Now, the Preacher moves on to consider the benefits of companionship in Ecclesiastes 4:7-12. If God is not placed first in every liaison that we human beings make (marriage, friendship, or church fellowship) the relationship will be short lived. Bible ... [Prov. 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Now, in a sense, Ecclesiastes 4:7-8 are a continuation of the previous section about finding a balance in your work life. 2. 13 ¶ Better is a a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be b admonished. Peshitta, Targum, and Talmud attribute the authorship of the book to King Solomon. God bade Gideon to go down to the camp of the Midianites, and if he … For example, doctors of the Church have cited Ecclesiastes. c 14 On a good day enjoy good things, and on an evil day consider: Both the one and the other God has made, so that no one may find the least fault with … Ecclesiastes 4 - So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of [such as were] oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors [there was] power; but they had no comforter. It proceeds to discuss the meaning of … 14 For the wise can see where they are going, but fools walk in the dark.” Yet I saw that the wise and the foolish share the same fate. 1 Remember also your Creator in v the days of your youth, before w the evil days come and the years draw near of which x you will say, "I have no pleasure in them"; 2 before y the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, 3 in the day when the keepers of the house … The dead have already run their race. 9) will withstand him. (Ecclesiastes 12:12.) And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive. WORD AND PHRASE STUDY. Ecclesiastes 4:12 Context. 13 Better a youngster poor and wise than a monarch old and silly who will no longer take advice-14 even though stepping from prison to the throne, even though born a beggar in that kingdom. Ecclesiastes 4:2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament "And if one shall violently assail him who is alone, two shall withstand him; and (finally) a threefold cord is not quickly broken asunder." NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ECCLESIASTES 12:11-12 11 The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. The oppressed # tn The term הָעֲשֻׁקִים (ha’ashuqim, Qal passive participle mpl from עָשַׁק, ’ashaq, “to oppress”) is a passive form, emphasizing that they are the objects of oppression at the hands of their oppressors. If one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; better, if a man overpower the solitary one, the two (ver. 12 But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body. 2 Make seven, or even eight portions;. Ecclesiastes 12. 14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. Qoheleth (Book of Ecclesiastes ) is the fourth of the five Megillot (scrolls) of Ketuvim (Writings) the last section of the Tanakh (Bible). Wherefore I praised the dead, &c. — I judged them less miserable. CHAPTER 11. 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. The last portion of the passage refers to a threefold cord. Wherefore I praised the dead.] If one individual and another individual make a twofold cord, the threefold cord must have an additional element that we can infer to be God Almighty. 26:13] terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, # 12:5 Or is a burden and desire fails, because man is going to his # [Ps ... mourners go about the streets— 6 before the silver cord is snapped, or # [Zech. Ecclesiastes 12 Remember Your Creator in Your Youth. Wherefore I praised the dead, which are already dead Truly and properly so; not in a figurative sense, as dead sinners, men dead in trespasses and sins; nor carnal professors, that have a name to live, and are dead; nor in a civil sense, such as are in calamity and distress, as the Jews in captivity, or in any affliction, which is sometimes called death: but such who are … Although he started out well, Solomon dishonoured the Lord. 13 I thought, “Wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness. hand Don’t be a Workaholic. n 11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails o —given by one shepherd. Ver. KJV: Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. Remember the Creator before old age sets in (1-8) The congregator’s conclusion (9-14) Wise words like oxgoads (11) Fear the true God (13) Ecclesiastes 12… ESV . 12 יב וְאִֽם־יִתְקְפוֹ֙ הָאֶחָ֔ד הַשְּׁנַ֖יִם יַעַמְד֣וּ נֶגְדּ֑וֹ וְהַחוּט֙ הַֽמְשֻׁלָּ֔שׁ לֹ֥א בִמְהֵרָ֖ה יִנָּתֵֽק׃ 1 * Send forth your bread upon the face of the waters;. 9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. This shows the uncertainty! Oppression, Toil, Friendlessness - Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed— and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors— and they have no comforter. Version. 3 * When the clouds are full,. 13 * Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows caution; 14 for from a prison house he came forth to reign; despite his kingship he was born poor. The Conclusion of the Matter. 13 Consider the work of God. Ecclesiastes 4:2. And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him If an enemy, or a thief, or a robber, attack anyone of them, in friendship and fellowship together, and is more than a match for him; both joined together will be able to resist him; so that he shall not succeed in his enterprise, and do the mischief he designed; see ( 2 Samuel 10:11) ; Thus, when Satan attacks … It has its own sphere of instruction—and that—as we have before hinted—of no common value. 4:2-3,5-12; 5:2-3,10,11-17. Catholicism. # side: Heb. But better than both is the one who … It was Solomon who wrote the book of Ecclesiastes and although he was a king with wisdom, and his wealth outstripped every other mortal being, he was a man who lost his spiritual direction over time, because of the carnal choices he made - and consequently he lived a defeated life. A three-ply cord * is not easily broken. 12 Where one alone would be overcome, two will put up resistance; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. The Preacher is still addressing work and an imbalanced view of it. And if one prevail against him, &c.] Vis unita fortior. Because they are out of the reach of wrong doers; and if dead in the Lord, they have "entered into peace, they do rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness." Ecclesiastes 4:2 Why I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. DRB: And I praised the dead rather than the living: after a long time you may find it again. 12:15] to take advice. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. Who can make straight what God has made crooked? Ecclesiastes Outline. Ecclesiastes 4:12. And behold [I saw] the tears of the oppressed and [that] they had no one to comfort [them;] and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort [them.] Ecclesiastes 4:12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. l 10 The Teacher m searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. - The third instance shows the value of the protection afforded by a companion's presence when danger threatens. Ver. 12 Where one alone may be overcome, two together can resist. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 12. 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; … Ecclesiastes 4 4 1 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. 12 So I decided to compare wisdom with foolishness and madness (for who can do this better than I, the king? The form yithqepho for yithqephehu, Job 15:24, is like hirdepho, Hosea 8:3 equals hirdephehu, Judges 9:40. Ecclesiastes 3 is the third chapter of the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. For this is certain, that setting aside the future life, which Solomon doth not meddle with in the present debate, and considering the uncertainty, and vanity, and manifold calamities of the present life, a wise man would not account it worth his while to live. The book contains philosophical speeches by a character called 'Qoheleth' (="the Teacher"; Koheleth or Kohelet), composed probably between 5th to 2nd century BC. you know not what misfortune may come upon the earth. # 2:12 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain. Ecclesiastes 4:2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. They do not have to face the problems of this life. Ecclesiastes 4:12. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:2-3. Advancement Is Meaningless. The final poem of Kohelet (Ecclesiastes 12:1–8) has been interpreted in the Targum, Talmud and Midrash, and by the rabbis Rashi, Rashbam and ibn Ezra, as an allegory of old age. 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