Ecclesiastes 1:14-2:16 NIV

Sermon Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 1:12-14

Ecclesiastes 1:12-14 I. Solomon found no rest in pleasure, riches, power, glory, wisdom itself. He had learnt nothing more, after all, than he might have known, and doubtless did know, when he was a child of seven years old; and that was simply to fear God and keep His commandments, for that was the whole duty of man. But though he did know it, he had lost the power of doing it; and he ended darkly and shamefully a dotard worshipping idols of wood and stone among his heathen queens. And thus as... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

Ecclesiastes 1:12-3:22 Koheleth now mentions the unusual advantages which he had possessed for enjoying life and making the best of it. His opportunities could not have been greater, he considers, had he been Solomon himself. He henceforth speaks therefore under the personated character of the wise son of David. He speaks as one who represented the wisdom and prosperity of his age. I. "I have set myself," he says, "to the task of investigating scientifically the value of all human pursuits."... read more

Charles Simeon

Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae - Ecclesiastes 1:14-15

DISCOURSE: 828THE CREATURE IS VANITY AND VEXATIONEcclesiastes 1:14-15. I have seen all the works which are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting, cannot be numbered.THE Book of Ecclesiastes is generally supposed to have been written by Solomon, after he had repented of his manifold transgressions: and it is pleasing to view it in this light: for, if it be not so, we have no record whatever... read more

Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 1:1-18

Book of Ecclesiastes begins,The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem ( Ecclesiastes 1:1 ).So that identifies the author as Solomon. The Hebrew word that is translated preacher is a word that can mean one of the assembly or a debater. And it is determined that the translation preacher is not necessarily a good translation of this Hebrew qoheleth, that it might be better translated the debater. "The words of the Debater, the son of David, the king of Jerusalem." He refers to... read more

Joseph Sutcliffe

Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 1:1-18

Ecclesiastes 1:2 . Vanity of vanities. This is the Hebrew form of the superlative degree of comparison; as, the heaven of heavens, the song of songs, &c. He adds, “vexation of spirit,” because his researches found neither bottom nor end. Thus Paul, in the study of providence, exclaimed, Ο Βαθος , “oh the depth!” We cannot penetrate far into the expanse of heaven, yet we see enough to charm the eye, and delight the mind. Ecclesiastes 1:6 . The wind goeth toward the south. Captain... read more

Joseph Exell

The Biblical Illustrator - Ecclesiastes 1:13-14

Ecclesiastes 1:13-14I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven.The mysteries of human lifeNow, there has never been any book which can be compared to this marvellous book of Ecclesiastes. It is the laboratory in which the penitent gathers bitter herbs, the garden in which the wise man gathers sweet flowers. It is the laboratory to which the greatest sage of old times deliberately puts his hand and his head to try experiments, in order to... read more

Joseph Exell

The Biblical Illustrator - Ecclesiastes 1:14

Ecclesiastes 1:14All is vanity and vexation of spirit.The vanity of a worldly lifeThe tone of these words is intensely sad, and perhaps some of us are inclined to think that they embody a morbid conception of human life, for they seem to lack the healthy inspiration of hope. However, we shall understand this declaration by considering it, not as a Divine assertion, but as the expression of a particular human experience. God does not condemn all earthly good as vanity, but man in one of his... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 1:14

Ecc 1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all [is] vanity and vexation of spirit. Ver. 14. I have seen all the works that are done. ] I have seen them, and set down mine observations of them. 1Ki 4:33 Pliny did somewhat like unto this in his Natural History; which work of his, saith Erasmus, Non minus varium est quam ipsa rerum natura: imo non opus, sed thesaurus, sed vere mundus rerum cognitu dignissimarum, it hath as much variety in it as nature herself... read more

Samuel Bagster

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge - Ecclesiastes 1:14

Ecclesiastes 1:17, Ecclesiastes 1:18, Ecclesiastes 2:11, Ecclesiastes 2:17, Ecclesiastes 2:26, 1 Kings 4:30-Jonah :, Psalms 39:5, Psalms 39:6 Reciprocal: Genesis 3:17 - cursed Genesis 42:38 - bring Esther 5:13 - Yet all this Job 7:3 - months of Psalms 78:33 - years Psalms 127:2 - vain Psalms 144:4 - Man Ecclesiastes 2:15 - Then I Ecclesiastes 3:10 - General Ecclesiastes 4:3 - who Ecclesiastes 4:4 - This is Ecclesiastes 4:16 - this Ecclesiastes 6:9 - this Ecclesiastes 8:9 - this Ecclesiastes... read more

John Wesley

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Ecclesiastes 1:14

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.Seen — Diligently observed.Vanity — Not only unsatisfying, but also an affliction or breaking to a man's spirit. read more