傳道書 5:17

17 並 且 他 終 身 在 黑 暗 中 吃 喝 ， 多 有 煩 惱 ， 又 有 病 患 嘔 氣 。

傳道書 5:17 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 5:17

All his days also he eateth in darkness
To all that has been said is added another evil, that attends such whose hearts are inordinately set on riches; that all their days, throughout the whole of their lives, they live a most uncomfortable life; for eating is here put for their whole manner of living: such not only eat coarse bread, and very mean food of any sort, but wear sordid apparel, and live in a poor cottage, in a very obscure and miserable manner. Aben Ezra understands it literally of the night, to which time such a man defers eating, that he might lose no time in his labour; and that it might not be seen what sort of food he eats, and how sparingly, and that others might not eat with him; and what he does eat is not eaten freely, but grudgingly, and with anguish and distress of mind, without any real pleasure and joy; and much less with the light of God's countenance, the discoveries of his love, and communion with him: the Targum is,

``all his days he dwelleth in darkness, that he may taste his bread alone;''

and [he hath], much sorrow and wrath with his sickness;
either the sickness of his mind, his covetousness; or the sickness of his body, emaciated by withholding from himself the necessaries of life: or when he comes upon a sick bed, he is filled with sorrow and indignation, that he must live no longer, to accumulate more wealth, and accomplish his projects and designs; and that he must leave his wealth, he has been at so much pains to gather together. Or, "and he is much angry" {o}; when things do not answer in trade according to his wishes; when his substance diminishes, or, however, does not increase as he desires; when he is cheated by fraudulent men, or robbed by thieves: "and he hath sickness" ^F16; either of body or mind, or both, because matters do not succeed as he would have them; and through fretfulness at losses and crosses, and disappointments; and through cares in getting and keeping what he has: "and wrath"; at all about him, whom he is ready to charge with slothfulness or unfaithfulness to him; and even at the providence of God, that does not give him the desired success; so that he has no manner of pleasure and comfort in life.

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 (hbrh oekw) "et irascitur multum", Vatablus, Drusius; "et indignatus fuit, vel indignatur multum", Piscator, Rambachius.
F16 (wylxw) "et agritudo ei fuit, vel est", Piscator, Drusius; "vel fuerit", Gejerus.

傳道書 5:17 In-Context

15 他 怎 樣 從 母 胎 赤 身 而 來 ， 也 必 照 樣 赤 身 而 去 ； 他 所 勞 碌 得 來 的 ， 手 中 分 毫 不 能 帶 去 。

16 他 來 的 情 形 怎 樣 ， 他 去 的 情 形 也 怎 樣 。 這 也 是 一 宗 大 禍 患 。 他 為 風 勞 碌 有 甚 麼 益 處 呢 ？

17 並 且 他 終 身 在 黑 暗 中 吃 喝 ， 多 有 煩 惱 ， 又 有 病 患 嘔 氣 。

18 我 所 見 為 善 為 美 的 ， 就 是 人 在 　 神 賜 他 一 生 的 日 子 吃 喝 ， 享 受 日 光 之 下 勞 碌 得 來 的 好 處 ， 因 為 這 是 他 的 分 。

19 　 神 賜 人 資 財 豐 富 ， 使 他 能 以 吃 用 ， 能 取 自 己 的 分 ， 在 他 勞 碌 中 喜 樂 ， 這 乃 是 　 神 的 恩 賜 。