Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 2:12-17

Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · Matthew Henry · CC0 1.0 Universal

Solomon found that knowledge and prudence were preferable 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 Christ 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 in hell?

And the spirits of just men made perfect cannot want them. So that if this were all, we might be led to hate our life, as it is all vanity and vexation of spirit.

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The Pulpit Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:1-26Ecclesiastes 2:1-26 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION Superiority of Wisdom to FollyEcclesiastes 2:12-16 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleSUPERIORITY OF WISDOM TO FOLLY. Solomon having tried what satisfaction was to be had in learning first, and then in the pleasures of sense, and having also put both together, here compares them one with another and pass…The Pulpit Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:12-26Ecclesiastes 2:12-26 · The Pulpit CommentarySection 3. Vanity of wisdom, in view of the fate that awaits the wise man equally with the fool, and the uncertainty of the future of his labors, especially as man is not master of his own fate.The Pulpit Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:12Ecclesiastes 2:12 · The Pulpit CommentaryAnd I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly (Ecclesiastes 1:17). He studied the three in their mutual connection and relation, comparing them in their results and effects on man's nature and life, and d…

commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:1-26EXPOSITIONJoseph S. Exell and contributors commentarySuperiority of Wisdom to FollySUPERIORITY OF WISDOM TO FOLLY. Solomon having tried what satisfaction was to be had in learning first, and then in the pleasures of sense, and having also put both together, here compares them one with another and pass…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:12-26Section 3. Vanity of wisdom, in view of the fate that awaits the wise man equally with the fool, and the uncertainty of the future of his labors, especially as man is not master of his own fate.Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:12And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly (Ecclesiastes 1:17). He studied the three in their mutual connection and relation, comparing them in their results and effects on man's nature and life, and d…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:13Then (and) I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness; or, there is profit, advantage to wisdom over folly, as the advantage of light over darkness. This result, at any rate, was obtained—he l…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:14The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh 'in darkness. This clause is closely connected with the preceding verse, showing how wisdom excelleth folly. The wise man has the eyes of his heart or understand…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:15Then (and) said I in my heart (Ecclesiastes 1:16), As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me. He applies the general statement of Ecclesiastes 2:14 to his own case. The end that overtakes the fool will ere…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:16For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool forever; Revised Version, more emphatically, for of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no remembrance forever. This, of course, is not absolutely tr…Joseph S. Exell and contributors