SEV Biblia, Chapter 7:20
Ciertamente no hay hombre justo en la tierra, que haga el bien y nunca peque.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:20
Verse 20. There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. - afjy al lo yechta, that may not sin. There is not a man upon earth, however just he may be, and habituated to do good, but is peccable-liable to commit sin; and therefore should continually watch and pray, and depend upon the Lord. But the text does not say, the just man does commit sin, but simply that he may sin; and so our translators have rendered it in 1 Sam. ii. 25, twice in 1 Kings viii. 31, 46, and 2 Chron. vi. 36; and the reader is requested to consult the note on 1 Kings viii. 46, where the proper construction of this word may be found, and the doctrine in question is fully considered.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 20. For [there is] not a just man upon earth , etc.] Or “although”, or “notwithstanding” f175 , wisdom is so beneficial, and guards and strengthens a good man, yet no man has such a share of it as to live without sin; there was not then one on earth, there never had been, one, nor never would be, nor has been, excepting the man Christ Jesus; who indeed, as man, was perfectly just, while here on earth, and went about doing good, and never sinned in all his life; but this cannot be said of any other, no, not of one that is truly and really just; not externally and in his own opinion only, but who is made so by the obedience of Christ, or by his righteousness imputed to him, while he is here on earth; otherwise in heaven, where the spirits of just men are made perfect, there it may be said of them what follows, but nowhere else; that doeth good, and sinneth not ; it is the character of a just man to do good, to do that which is according to the will of God, from a principle of love to him, through faith in him, in the name and strength of Christ, and with a view to the glory of God; to do good in such a sense wicked men cannot; only such who are made good by the grace of God, are regenerated and made new creatures in Christ, are quickened by his Spirit, and are true believers in him; who appear to be what they are, by the fruits of good works they bring forth; and this not in a mercenary way, or in order to obtain life and righteousness, but as constrained by the grace of God, by which they are freely justified; and yet these are not free from sin, as appears by their confessions and complaints, by their backslidings, slips, and falls, and their petitions for fresh discoveries of pardoning grace; and even are not without sin, and the commission of it, in religious duties, or while they are doing good; hence their righteousness is said to be as filthy rags, and mention is made of the iniquity of holy things, ( Isaiah 64:6 Exodus 28:38). The Targum is, “that does good all his days, and sins not before the Lord.” Aben Ezra justly gives the sense thus, “who does good always, and never sins;” and observes that there are none but sin in thought, word, or deed. The poet says, “to sin is common to all men;” no man, though ever so good, is perfect on earth, or free from sin; see ( 1 Kings 8:46 Proverbs 20:9 1 John 1:8). Alshech’s paraphrase is, “there is not a righteous man on earth, that does good, and sins not; awhh bwjb , “in that good”;” which is the true sense of the words.
Matthew Henry Commentary
The benefit of a good name; of death above life; of sorrow above vai mirth. (Eccl. 7:1-6) Concerning oppression, anger, and discontent (Eccl. 7:7-10) Advantages of wisdom. (Eccl. 7:11-22) Experience of the evil of sin. (Eccl. 7:23-29)
Eccl. 7:1-6 Reputation for piety and honesty is more desirable than all the wealth and pleasure in this world. It will do more good to go to funeral than to a feast. We may lawfully go to both, as there is occasion; our Saviour both feasted at the wedding of his friend i Cana, and wept at the grave of his friend in Bethany. But, considerin how apt we are to be vain and indulge the flesh, it is best to go to the house of mourning, to learn the end of man as to this world Seriousness is better than mirth and jollity. That is best for us whic is best for our souls, though it be unpleasing to sense. It is bette to have our corruptions mortified by the rebuke of the wise, than to have them gratified by the song of fools. The laughter of a fool i soon gone, the end of his mirth is heaviness.
Eccl. 7:7-10 The event of our trials and difficulties is often bette than at first we thought. Surely it is better to be patient in spirit than to be proud and hasty. Be not soon angry, nor quick in resentin an affront. Be not long angry; though anger may come into the bosom of a wise man, it passes through it as a way-faring man; it dwells only in the bosom of fools. It is folly to cry out upon the badness of ou times, when we have more reason to cry out for the badness of our ow hearts; and even in these times we enjoy many mercies. It is folly to cry up the goodness of former times; as if former ages had not the lik things to complain of that we have: this arises from discontent, an aptness to quarrel with God himself.
Eccl. 7:11-22 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, yea better. I shelters from the storms and scorching heat of trouble. Wealth will no lengthen out the natural life; but true wisdom will give spiritual life, and strengthen men for services under their sufferings. Let u look upon the disposal of our condition as the work of God, and at las all will appear to have been for the best. In acts of righteousness, be not carried into heats or passions, no, not by a zeal for God. Be no conceited of thine own abilities; nor find fault with every thing, no busy thyself in other men's matters. Many who will not be wrought upo by the fear of God, and the dread of hell, will avoid sins which rui their health and estate, and expose to public justice. But those tha truly fear God, have but one end to serve, therefore act steadily. I we say we have not sinned, we deceive ourselves. Every true believer i ready to say, God be merciful to me a sinner. Forget not at the sam time, that personal righteousness, walking in newness of life, is the only real evidence of an interest by faith in the righteousness of the Redeemer. Wisdom teaches us not to be quick in resenting affronts. Be not desirous to know what people say; if they speak well of thee, it will feed thy pride, if ill, it will stir up thy passion. See that tho approve thyself to God and thine own conscience, and then heed not what men say of thee; it is easier to pass by twenty affronts than to aveng one. When any harm is done to us, examine whether we have not done a bad to others.
Eccl. 7:23-29 Solomon, in his search into the nature and reason of things, had been miserably deluded. But he here speaks with godl sorrow. He alone who constantly aims to please God, can expect to escape; the careless sinner probably will fall to rise no more. He no discovered more than ever the evil of the great sin of which he ha been guilty, the loving many strange women, I Kin. 11:1. A woma thoroughly upright and godly, he had not found. How was he likely to find such a one among those he had collected? If any of them had bee well disposed, their situation would tend to render them all nearly of the same character. He here warns others against the sins into which he had been betrayed. Many a godly man can with thankfulness acknowledg that he has found a prudent, virtuous woman in the wife of his bosom but those men who have gone in Solomon's track, cannot expect to fin one. He traces up all the streams of actual transgression to the fountain. It is clear that man is corrupted and revolted, and not as he was made. It is lamentable that man, whom God made upright, has foun out so many ways to render himself wicked and miserable. Let us bles Him for Jesus Christ, and seek his grace, that we may be numbered with his chosen people __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
כי 3588 אדם 120 אין 369 צדיק 6662 בארץ 776 אשׁר 834 יעשׂה 6213 טוב 2896 ולא 3808 יחטא׃ 2398
