Ecclesiastes 5

10. Not only will God punish at last, but meanwhile the oppressive gainers of "silver" find no solid "satisfaction" in it.
shall not be satisfied--so the oppressor "eateth his own flesh"
with increase--is not satisfied with the gain that he makes.

11. they . . . that eat them--the rich man's dependents ( Psalms 23:5 ).

12. Another argument against anxiety to gain riches. "Sleep . . . sweet" answers to "quietness" ( Ecclesiastes 4:6 ); "not suffer . . . sleep," to "vexation of spirit." Fears for his wealth, and an overloaded stomach without "laboring" (compare Ecclesiastes 4:5 ), will not suffer the rich oppressor to sleep.

13, 14. Proofs of God's judgments even in this world ( Proverbs 11:31 ). The rich oppressor's wealth provokes enemies, robbers, &c. Then, after having kept it for an expected son, he loses it beforehand by misfortune ("by evil travail"), and the son is born to be heir of poverty. Ecclesiastes 2:19 Ecclesiastes 2:23 gives another aspect of the same subject.

16. Even supposing that he loses not his wealth before death, then at last he must go stripped of it all ( Psalms 49:17 ).
laboured for the wind--( Hosea 12:1 , 1 Corinthians 9:26 ).

17. eateth--appropriately put for "liveth" in general, as connected with Ecclesiastes 5:11 Ecclesiastes 5:12 Ecclesiastes 5:18 .
darkness--opposed to "light (joy) of countenance" ( Ecclesiastes 8:1 , Proverbs 16:15 ).
wrath--fretfulness, literally, "His sorrow is much, and his infirmity (of body) and wrath."

18. Returns to the sentiment ( Ecclesiastes 3:12 Ecclesiastes 3:13 Ecclesiastes 3:22 ); translate: "Behold the good which I have seen, and which is becoming" (in a man).
which God giveth--namely, both the good of his labor and his life.
his portion--legitimately. It is God's gift that makes it so when regarded as such. Such a one will use, not abuse, earthly things ( 1 Corinthians 7:31 ). Opposed to the anxious life of the covetous ( Ecclesiastes 5:10 Ecclesiastes 5:17 ).

19. As Ecclesiastes 5:18 refers to the "laboring" man ( Ecclesiastes 5:12 ), so Ecclesiastes 5:19 to the "rich" man, who gets wealth not by "oppression" ( Ecclesiastes 5:8 ), but by "God's gift." He is distinguished also from the "rich" man ( Ecclesiastes 6:2 ) in having received by God's gift not only "wealth," but also "power to eat thereof," which that one has not.
to take his portion--limits him to the lawful use of wealth, not keeping back from God His portion while enjoying his own.

20. He will not remember much, looking back with disappointment, as the ungodly do ( Ecclesiastes 2:11 ), on the days of his life.
answereth . . . in the joy--God answers his prayers in giving him "power" to enjoy his blessings. GESENIUS and Vulgate translate, "For God (so) occupies him with joy," &c., that he thinks not much of the shortness and sorrows of life. HOLDEN, "Though God gives not much (as to real enjoyment), yet he remembers (with thankfulness) the days; for (he knows) God exercises him by the joy," &c. (tries him by prosperity), so Margin, but English Version is simplest.