Bible in one year
10/26/2022 Ecclesiastes Introduction & Chapter 8-10
by Rev. Katherine Liu
Bruce
Christian Arts Ministries:
Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & counseling
Ecclesiastes 8 Solomon points to the wisdom of submitting to
the king. A wise man’s confidence is that inequities eventually will terminate
and proper judicial decisions will be made for his vindication.(v.5). Solomon
sets forth the limitations of a king’s power. He too, is subject to God’s
sovereign design(v.6). Temporal wisdom and authority have definite
limits(vv.7-8). The king receives no exemption from war nor will wicked ways avert
his punishment. (vv.6-8). Verses 10-14 Solomon ponders the incongruities of
life. Solomon bemoans the absence of apparent retribution on the wicked. A
summary of Solomon’s quest and the discoveries he has made. (v.15). A
parenthetical comment emphasizing the exhaustive study Solomon made. It
occupied him day and night.(v.16). Man longs to know the intricacies of the
divine plan, which even through exhaustive labors cannot be fully known.(v.17).
Ecclesiastes 8 (KJV)
¹ Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a
man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be
changed.
² I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath
of God.
³ Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth
whatsoever pleaseth him.
⁴ Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What
doest thou?
⁵ Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's
heart discerneth both time and judgment.
⁶ Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of
man is great upon him.
⁷ For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall
be?
⁸ There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither
hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war;
neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.
⁹ All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under
the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.
¹⁰ And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the
holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also
vanity.
¹¹ Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore
the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
¹² Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet
surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before
him:
¹³ But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days,
which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.
¹⁴ There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto
whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked
men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that
this also is vanity.
¹⁵ Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun,
than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of
his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.
¹⁶ When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is
done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep
with his eyes:)
¹⁷ Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that
is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall
not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not
be able to find it.
傳 8
¹誰如智慧人呢？誰知道事情的解釋呢？人的智慧使他的臉發光，並使他臉上的暴氣改變
² 我勸你遵守王的命令；既指 神起誓，理當如此。
³ 不要急躁離開王的眼前；不要身於惡事，因為他凡事都隨自己的心意而行。
⁴ 王的話本有權力，誰敢問他說「你作甚麼」呢？
⁵ 凡遵守命令的，必不經歷禍患；智慧人的心能辨明時候和審斷。
⁶ 各樣事務成就都有時候和審斷，因為人的苦難重壓在他身上。
⁷ 他不知道將來的事，因為將來如何，誰能告訴他呢？
⁸無人有權力掌管靈氣，將靈氣留住；也無人有權力掌管死期；這場爭戰，無人能免；邪惡也不能救那好行邪惡的人。
⁹ 這一切我都見過，也專心查考日光之下所作的一切事。有時這人管轄那人，令人受害。
¹⁰ 我見惡人埋葬，這等人平生往來聖地，他們曾在城中所行的被人忘記；這也是虛空。
¹¹ 因為斷定罪名不立刻施刑，所以世人滿心作惡。
¹² 罪人雖然作惡百次，倒享長久的年日；然而我準知道，敬畏 神的，就是在他面前敬畏的人，終久必得福樂。
¹³ 惡人卻不得福樂，也不得長久的年日；這年日好像影兒，因他不敬畏 神。
¹⁴世上有一件虛空的事，就是義人所遭遇的，反照惡人所行的；又有惡人所遭遇的，反照義人所行的。我說，這也是虛空。
¹⁵ 我就稱讚快樂，原來人在日光之下，莫過於吃喝快樂；因為他在日光之下， 神賜他一生的年日，要從勞碌中，時常享受所得的。
¹⁶ 我專心求智慧，要看世上所作的事。（有晝夜不睡覺不合眼的。）
¹⁷我就看明神一切的作為，知道人查不出日光之下所作的事；任憑他費多少力尋查，都查不出來，就是智慧人雖想知道，也是查不出來。
Ecclesiastes 9 Many events are beyond the
control of men. Every possible circumstance can befall man, but whether faced
with love(happy circumstances) or hate (unhappy circumstances), God has
arranged what will take place in one’s life(v.1). Regardless of how haphazard
the events of life may appear to be, all men face one certain
fate-death.(vv.2-6). This living do have an advantage over the dead(v.4). The
head have no further opportunities of securing compensation for their
labors(v.5) and they no longer share in life on this earth(v.6). White
garments and much oil signify festal joy. Solomon adds a new dimension to his
counsel concerning life. Though much of life is futile, one must grasp its
opportunities and use them to the fullest in serving God. There will be no such
opportunities in the grave (John9:4). Every man has a particular work, which is
accomplished in this life or not at all. Verses 11-12 The issues and length of
life are quite unpredictable. No one can guarantee success or foresee how God
will deal with him.
Ecclesiastes 9 (KJV)
¹ For all this I considered in my heart even to
declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the
hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.
² All things come alike to all: there is one
event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to
the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is
the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.
³ This is an evil among all things that are done
under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the
sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and
after that they go to the dead.
⁴ For to him that is joined to all the living
there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
⁵ For the living know that they shall die: but
the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the
memory of them is forgotten.
⁶ Also their love, and their hatred, and their
envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any
thing that is done under the sun.
⁷ Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink
thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.
⁸ Let thy garments be always white; and let thy
head lack no ointment.
⁹ Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest
all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun,
all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy
labour which thou takest under the sun.
¹⁰ Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with
thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the
grave, whither thou goest.
¹¹ I returned, and saw under the sun, that 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.
¹² For man also knoweth not his time: as the
fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the
snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly
upon them.
¹³ This wisdom have I seen also under the sun,
and it seemed great unto me:
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.
傳 9
¹ 我將這一切事放在心上，詳細考究，就知道義人和智慧人，並他們的作為都在 神手中；或是愛，或是恨，都在他們的前面，人不能知道。
²凡臨到眾人的事都是一樣：義人和惡人都遭遇一樣的事；好人，潔淨人和不潔淨人，獻祭的與不獻祭的，也是一樣。好人如何，罪人也如何；起誓的如何，怕起誓的也如何。
³在日光之下所行的一切事上有一件禍患，就是眾人所遭遇的都是一樣，並且世人的心充滿了惡；活著的時候心裏狂妄，後來就歸死人那裏去了。
⁴ 與一切活人相連的，那人還有盼望；因為活著的狗比死了的獅子更強。
⁵ 活著的人知道必死；死了的人毫無所知，也不再得賞賜；他們的名無人記念。
⁶他們的愛，他們的恨，他們的嫉妒，早都消滅了。在日光之下所行的一切事上，他們永不再有分了。
⁷ 你只管去歡歡喜喜吃你的餅，心中快樂喝你的酒，因為 神如今悅納你的作為。
⁸ 你的衣服當時常潔白，你頭上也不要缺少膏油。
⁹在你一生虛空的年日，就是神賜你在日光之下虛空的年日，當同你所愛的妻，快活度日,因為那是你今生在日光之下勞碌的事上所得的分。
¹⁰凡你手所當作的事要盡力去作；因為在你所必去的墳墓沒有工作，沒有謀算，沒有知識，也沒有智慧。
¹¹我又轉念：見日光之下，快跑的未必能贏；力戰的未必得勝；智慧的未必得糧食；明哲的未必得資財；靈巧的未必得喜悅。所臨到眾人的是在乎時侯和機會。
¹²原來人也不知道自己的定期。魚被惡網圈住，鳥被網羅捉住，禍患忽然臨到的時候，世人陷在其中也是如此。
¹³ 我見日光之下有一樣智慧，據我看乃是廣大，
¹⁴ 就是有一小城，其中的人數稀少，有大君王來攻擊，高築營壘，將城圍困。
¹⁵ 城中有一個貧窮的智慧人，他用智慧救了那城，卻沒有人記念那窮人。
¹⁶ 我就說，智慧勝過勇力；然而那貧窮人的智慧被人藐視，他的話也無人聽從。
¹⁷ 寧可在安靜之中聽智慧人的言語，不聽掌管愚昧人的喊聲。
¹⁸ 智慧勝過打仗的兵器；但一個罪人能敗壞許多善事。
Ecclesiastes
10 A series
of proverbs on the subject of wisdom and folly. The fool rambles, failing to see
the obvious way of accomplishing his purposes(v.15). verse 16 feast in the morning. I.e.,
feast when there is work to be done. Verse 19 expresses the attitude of the carousing
princes (v.16). A bird of the air(v.20). The proverbial expression signifies a report
or disclosure by an unknown source. Contempt for authority does not go undiscovered.
Ecclesiastes 10 (KJV)
¹ Dead flies cause the ointment of the
apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is
in reputation for wisdom and honour.
² A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a
fool's heart at his left.
³ Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by
the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
⁴ If the spirit of the ruler rise up against
thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
⁵ There is an evil which I have seen under the
sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
⁶ Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich
sit in low place.
⁷ I have seen servants upon horses, and princes
walking as servants upon the earth.
⁸ He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and
whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
⁹ Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith;
and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
¹⁰ If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the
edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
¹¹ Surely the serpent will bite without
enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
¹² The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious;
but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
¹³ The beginning of the words of his mouth is
foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
¹⁴ A fool also is full of words: a man cannot
tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
¹⁵ The labour of the foolish wearieth every one
of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
¹⁶ Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a
child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
¹⁷ 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!
¹⁸ By much slothfulness the building decayeth;
and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
¹⁹ A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh
merry: but money answereth all things.
²⁰ Curse not the king, no not in thy thought;
and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the
voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
傳 10
¹ 死蒼蠅使作香的膏油發出臭氣；這樣，一點愚昧也能敗壞智慧和尊榮。
² 智慧人的心居右；愚昧人的心居左。
³ 並且愚昧人行路顯出無知，對眾人說，他是愚昧人。
⁴ 掌權者的心靈若向你發怒，不要離開你的本位，因為柔和能免大過。
⁵ 我見日光之下有一件禍患，似乎出於掌權的錯誤，
⁶ 就是愚昧人立在高位；富足人坐在低位。
⁷ 我見過僕人騎馬，王子像僕人在地上步行。
⁸ 挖陷坑的，自己必掉在其中；拆籬笆的，必為蛇所咬。
⁹ 挪移石頭的，必受損傷；劈開木頭的，必遭危險。
¹⁰ 鐵器鈍了，若不將刃磨快，就必多費氣力；但得智慧指教，便有益處。
¹¹ 沒有法術，蛇必咬人；胡言亂語也是無益。
¹² 智慧人的口說出恩言；愚昧人的嘴吞滅自己。
¹³ 他口中的言語起頭是愚昧；他話的末尾是奸惡的狂妄。
¹⁴ 愚昧人滿有言語；人卻道不出將來有甚麼事，他身後的事誰能告訴他呢？
¹⁵ 凡愚昧人，他的勞碌使自己困乏，因為連進城的路，他也不知道。
¹⁶ 邦國啊，你的王若是孩童，你的群臣早晨宴樂，你就有禍了！
¹⁷邦國啊，你的王若是貴冑之子，你的群臣按時吃喝，為要補力，不為酒醉，你就有福了！
¹⁸ 因多懶惰，房子衰殘；因人手懶，房屋滴漏。
¹⁹ 設擺筵席是為喜笑，酒能使心歡暢；唯有錢能叫凡事應心。
²⁰ 你不可咒詛君王，也不可心懷此念；在你臥房也不可咒詛富戶。因為空中的鳥必傳揚這聲音，有翅膀的也必述說這事。
Bibliography,
Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago,
IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.
King James, The
Holy Bible(KJV). Cleveland, OH: The world publishing company
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