SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:1
¶ Dije yo también en mi corazón: Ven ahora, te probaré con alegría, y gozarás de bienes. Mas he aquí esto también era vanidad.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 2:1
Verse 1. I will prove thee with mirth - This is well expressed by the author so often referred to. Having tried speculative knowledge in vain, passion and appetite whisper: - "From the rugged thorny road Of wisdom, which so ill repays thy toil, Turn back, and enter pleasure's flowery paths. Go, take thy fill of joy, to passion give The reins; nor let one serious thought restrain What youth and affluence prompt."
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. I said in mine heart , etc.] He communed with his heart, he thought and reasoned within himself, and came to this resolution in his own mind; that since he could not find happiness in natural wisdom and knowledge, he would seek for it elsewhere, even in pleasure; in which, he observed, some men placed their happiness; or, however, sought for it there: or, “I said to my heart”, as the Syriac version; Go to now ; or, “go, I pray thee” listen to what I am about to say, and pursue the track I shall now point out to thee; I will prove thee with mirth ; with those things which will cause mirth, joy, and pleasure; and try whether any happiness can be enjoyed this way, since it could not be had in wisdom and knowledge. Jarchi and Aben Ezra render it, “I will mingle”, wine with water, or with spices; or, “I will pour out”, wine in plenty to drink of, “with joy”, and to promote mirth: but the Targum, Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, interpret it as we do, and which sense Aben Ezra makes mention of; therefore enjoy pleasure ; which man is naturally a lover of; he was so in his state of innocency, and this was the bait that was laid for him, and by which he was drawn into sin; and now he loves, lives in, and serves sinful pleasures; which are rather imaginary than real, and last but for a season, and end in bitterness: but such sordid lusts and pleasures are not here meant; Solomon was too wise and good a man to give into these, as the “summum bonum”; or ever to think there could be any happiness in them, or even to make a trial of them for that purpose: not criminal pleasures, or an impure, sottish, and epicurean life, are here intended; but manly, rational, and lawful pleasures, for no other are mentioned in the detail of particulars following; and, in the pursuit of the whole, he was guided and governed by his wisdom, and that remained in him, ( Ecclesiastes 2:3,9). It may be rendered, “therefore see good” f47 ; look upon all the good, pleasant, and delectable things of life; and enjoy them in such a manner as, if possible, happiness may be attained in them; and, behold, this also [is] vanity ; it will be found, by making the experiment, that there is no solid and substantial happiness in it, as it was by himself.
Matthew Henry Commentary
The vanity and vexation of mirth, sensual pleasure, riches, and pomp (Eccl. 2:1-11) Human wisdom insufficient. (Eccl. 2:12-17) This world to be used according to the will of God. (Eccl. 2:18-26)
Eccl. 2:1-11 Solomon soon found mirth and pleasure to be vanity. What does noisy, flashy mirth towards making a man happy? The manifol devices of men's hearts, to get satisfaction from the world, and their changing from one thing to another, are like the restlessness of a ma in a fever. Perceiving it was folly to give himself to wine, he nex tried the costly amusements of princes. The poor, when they read such description, are ready to feel discontent. But the remedy against all such feelings is in the estimate of it all by the owner himself. All was vanity and vexation of spirit: and the same things would yield the same result to us, as to Solomon. Having food and raiment, let u therewith be content. His wisdom remained with him; a stron understanding, with great human knowledge. But every earthly pleasure when unconnected with better blessings, leaves the mind as eager an unsatisfied as before. Happiness arises not from the situation in whic we are placed. It is only through Jesus Christ that final blessednes can be attained.
Eccl. 2:12-17 Solomon found that knowledge and prudence were preferabl to ignorance and folly, though human wisdom and knowledge will not make a man happy. The most learned of men, who dies a stranger to Chris Jesus, will perish equally with the most ignorant; and what good can commendations on earth do to the body in the grave, or the soul i hell? And the spirits of just men made perfect cannot want them. S that if this were all, we might be led to hate our life, as it is all vanity and vexation of spirit.
Eccl. 2:18-26 Our hearts are very loth to quit their expectations of great things from the creature; but Solomon came to this at length. The world is a vale of tears, even to those that have much of it. See what fools they are, who make themselves drudges to the world, which afford a man nothing better than subsistence for the body. And the utmost he can attain in this respect is to allow himself a sober, cheerful us thereof, according to his rank and condition. But we must enjoy good in our labour; we must use those things to make us diligent and cheerfu in worldly business. And this is the gift of God. Riches are a blessin or a curse to a man, according as he has, or has not, a heart to make good use of them. To those that are accepted of the Lord, he gives jo and satisfaction in the knowledge and love of him. But to the sinner he allots labour, sorrow, vanity, and vexation, in seeking a worldl portion, which yet afterwards comes into better hands. Let the sinne seriously consider his latter end. To seek a lasting portion in the love of Christ and the blessings it bestows, is the only way to tru and satisfying enjoyment even of this present world __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
אמרתי 559 אני 589 בלבי 3820 לכה 1980 נא 4994 אנסכה 5254 בשׂמחה 8057 וראה 7200 בטוב 2896 והנה 2009 גם 1571 הוא 1931 הבל׃ 1892
