Chuándàoshū 9:8

8 Nǐde yīfu dāngshí cháng jiébái . nǐ tóu shang yĕ búyào quē shǎo gāo yóu .

Chuándàoshū 9:8 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 9:8

Let thy garments be always white
That is, neat and clean, not vile and sordid; what is comely and decent, and suitable to a man's circumstances; this colour is particularly mentioned because much used in the eastern countries, and in Judea; hence we so often read of washing garments, and of fullers that whitened them; and especially on festival days and days of rejoicing, to which Horace F1 refers; and here it signifies that every day should be like a festival or day of rejoicing to a good man, to whom God has given the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, ( Isaiah 61:3 ) ; and though there may be times for mourning, and so of putting on other apparel, yet, in common and ordinarily, this should be the habit, decent and comely apparel. The ancient Jews in Aben Ezra, and so Jarchi, interpret it of an unblemished conversation; and Kimchi F2 of repentance and good works; and so the Targum,

``let thy garments be white (or washed) from all filth of sin;''
or be without any spot of sin, as Alshech; the conversation garments of the saints are made white in the blood of Christ, and his righteousness is fine linen, and white; and even eternal glory and happiness is signified by walking with him in white, ( Revelation 7:14 ) ( 19:8 ) ( Revelation 3:4 Revelation 3:18 ) ; and let thy head lack no ointment:
which used to be poured plentifully on the heads of guests at feasts F3, for the refreshment of them, which gave pleasure, and a sweet odour and fragrancy, and was much in use in those hot countries; see ( Psalms 23:5 ) ( Luke 7:46 ) ; and is opposed to a gloomy and melancholy carriage and deportment, ( Matthew 6:17 ) ; hence we read of the oil of joy and gladness, ( Psalms 45:7 ) ( Isaiah 63:1 ) . The Jews before mentioned interpreted this of a good name better than ointment, ( Ecclesiastes 7:1 ) . So the Targum,
``and a good name, which is like to anointing oil, get; that blessings may come upon thy head, and thy goodness fail not.''

FOOTNOTES:

F1 "Ille repotia natales aliosque dierum, festos albatus celebret". Satyr. l. 2. Sat. 2. v. 60, 61. "Cum ipse epuli Dominus albatus esset", Cicero in Vatin. c. 13.
F2 Comment. in lsa. lxv. 13.
F3 "Coronatus nitentes malabathro Syrio capillos", Horat. Carmin. l. 2. Ode 7. v. 7, 8. "et paulo post: funde capacibus unguenta de conchis", v. 22, 23. "Unguentum (fateor) bonum dedisti convivis", Martial. l. 3. Epigr. 11.

Chuándàoshū 9:8 In-Context

6 Tāmende aì , tāmende hèn , tāmende jídù , zǎo dōu xiāomiè le . zaì rì guāng zhī Xiàsuǒ xíng de yīqiè shì shang , tāmen yǒng bú zaì yǒu fèn le .
7 Nǐ zhǐguǎn qù huān huānxǐ xǐ chī nǐde fàn . xīn zhōng kuaìlè hē nǐde jiǔ . yīnwei shén yǐjing yuènà nǐde zuòwéi .
8 Nǐde yīfu dāngshí cháng jiébái . nǐ tóu shang yĕ búyào quē shǎo gāo yóu .
9 Zaì nǐ yìshēng xū kōng de nián rì , jiù shì shén cì nǐ zaì rì guāng zhī xià xū kòng de nián rì , dāng tóng nǐ suǒ aì de qī , kuaì huó duó rì . yīnwei nà shì nǐ shēng qián , zaì rì guāng zhī xià laólù de shì shang suǒ dé de fēn .
10 Fán nǐ shǒu suǒ dāng zuò de shì , yào jìnlì qù zuò . yīnwei zaì nǐ suǒ bì qù de yīnjiān , méiyǒu gōngzuò , méiyǒu móu suàn , méiyǒu zhīshi , yĕ méiyǒu zhìhuì .
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