Chuándàoshū 8:15

15 Wǒ jiù chēngzàn kuaìlè , yuánlái rén zaì rì guāng zhī xià , mò jiàng rú chīhēkuaìlè . yīnwei tā zaì rì guāng zhī xià , shén cì tāde nián rì , yào cóng laólù zhōng , shícháng xiǎngshòu suǒ dé de .

Chuándàoshū 8:15 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 8:15

Then I commended mirth
Innocent mirth, a cheerfulness of spirit in whatsoever state condition men are; serenity and tranquillity of mind, thankfulness for what they have, and a free and comfortable use of it; this the wise man praised and recommended to good men, as being much better than to fret at the prosperity of the wicked, and the seemingly unequal distribution of things in this world, and because they had not so much of them: as others; who yet had reason to be thankful for what they had, and to lift up their heads and be cheerful, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God in another world. The Targum interprets it of the joy of the law; because a man hath no better thing under the sun than to eat, and to
drink, and to be merry;
of earthly things there is nothing better than for a man freely and cheerfully, with moderation and thankfulness, to enjoy what God has given him; this is what had been observed before, ( Ecclesiastes 2:24 ) ( 3:22 ) ( 5:18 ) ; and is not the language of an epicure, or a carnal man, who observing that no difference is made between the righteous and the wicked, that it is as well or better with the wicked than the righteous, determines to give up himself to sensual lusts and pleasures; but it is the good and wholesome advice of the wise man, for men to be easy under every providence, satisfied with their present condition and circumstances, and be cheerful and pleasant, and not distress themselves about things they cannot alter; for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life,
which God giveth him under the sun;
man's present life is under the sun, and is continued as long as it pleases God; though it is but short, rather to be counted by days than years, and is a laborious one; and all that he gets by his labour, enjoyed by him, is to eat and drink cheerfully; and this he may expect to have and continue with him as long as he lives, even food and raiment, and with this he should be content.

Chuándàoshū 8:15 In-Context

13 È rén què bùdé fú lè , yĕ bùdé chángjiǔ de nián rì . zhè nián rì hǎoxiàng yǐngér , yīn tā bù jìngwèi shén .

14 Shìshang yǒu yī jiàn xū kōng de shì , jiù shì yì rén suǒ zāoyù de , fǎn zhào è rén suǒ xíng de . yòu yǒu è rén suǒ zāoyù de , fǎn zhào yì rén suǒ xíng de . wǒ shuō , zhè yĕ shì xū kōng .

15 Wǒ jiù chēngzàn kuaìlè , yuánlái rén zaì rì guāng zhī xià , mò jiàng rú chīhēkuaìlè . yīnwei tā zaì rì guāng zhī xià , shén cì tāde nián rì , yào cóng laólù zhōng , shícháng xiǎngshòu suǒ dé de .

16 Wǒ zhuān xīn qiú zhìhuì , yào kàn shìshang suǒ zuò de shì . ( yǒu zhòuyè bù shuìjiào , bù hé yǎn de ) .

17 Wǒ jiù kàn míng shén yīqiè de zuòwéi . zhīdào rén zhā bù chū rì guāng zhī Xiàsuǒ zuò de shì . rènpíng tā feì duōshào lì xún zhā , dōu zhā bù chūlai . jiù shì zhìhuì rén suī xiǎng zhīdào , yĕ shì zhā bù chūlai .