Chuándàoshū 9:1-3

1 Wǒ jiāng yīqiè shì fàng zaì xīn shang , xiángxì kǎo jiū , jiù zhīdào yì rén hé zhìhuì rén , bīng/4 tāmende zuòwéi , dōu zaì shén shǒu zhōng . huò shì aì , huò shì hèn , dōu zaì tāmende qiánmian , rén bùnéng zhīdào .

2 Fán líndào zhòngrén de shì , dōu shì yíyàng . yì rén hé è rén , dōu zāoyù yíyàng de shì . hǎo rén , jiéjìng rén hé bù jiéjìng rén , xiànjì de yǔ bù xiànjì de , yĕ shì yíyàng . hǎo rén rúhé , zuì rén yĕ rúhé . qǐshì de rúhé , pà qǐshì de yĕ rúhé .

3 Zaì rì guāng zhī Xiàsuǒ xíng de yīqiè shì shang , yǒu yī jiàn huòhuàn , jiù shì zhòngrén suǒ zāoyù de , dōu shì yíyàng . bìngqiĕ shìrén de xīn , chōngmǎn le è . huó zhe de shíhou xīnli kuáng wàng , hòulái jiù guī sǐ rén nàli qù le .

Chuándàoshū 9:1-3 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ECCLESIASTES 9

Though the wise man, with all his wisdom, search, and labour, could not find out the causes and reasons of divine Providence, in the branches and methods of it; yet some things he did find out, and observe, in making this inquiry, and which he declares; as that good and wise men, more especially their persons and their affairs, were in the hand of God, under his guidance, government, and direction; and that an interest in his love and hatred was not to be known by the outward estate of men, Ec 9:1; That the same events happen to good and bad men, who are variously described; that the hearts of wicked men are full of sin and madness as long as they live, and that they all must and do die, Ec 9:2,3; and then the state of such dead is described, as being without hope, knowledge, reward, or memory; and without love, hatred, or envy, or any portion in the things of this life, Ec 9:4-6. Wherefore good men are advised to live cheerfully, in a view of acceptance with God, both of persons and services; and eat and drink, and clothe well, according to their circumstances, and enjoy their friends and families; since nothing of this kind can be done in the grave, Ec 9:7-10. Then the wise man observes another vanity; that success in undertakings is not always to persons who bid fair, and might hope for it, but looks like the effect of chance, Ec 9:11; which want of success is often owing to their ignorance of the proper time of doing things, and to their want of foresight, thought, and care, to prevent evils; for which reason they are compared to fishes and birds, taken in a net or snare, Ec 9:12. And concludes with a commendation of wisdom, illustrated by an example of it, in a certain person that delivered a city by it, Ec 9:13-15; and though the man's wisdom was despised, yet it is preferable to strength, or weapons of war, or the noise of a foolish ruler, who destroys much good, Ec 9:16-18.