Prediker 5:15-20

15 Daarom is dit ook een kwaad, dat krankheid aanbrengt; dat hij in alle manier, gelijk hij gekomen is, alzo heengaat; en wat voordeel is het hem, dat hij in den wind gearbeid heeft?

16 Dat hij ook alle dagen in duisternis gegeten heeft; en dat hij veel verdriets gehad heeft, ook zijn krankheid, en onstuimigen toorn?

17 Ziet, wat ik gezien heb, een goede zaak, die schoon is: te eten en te drinken, en te genieten het goede van al zijn arbeid, die hij bearbeid heeft onder de zon, gedurende het getal der dagen zijns levens, hetwelk God hem geeft; want dat is zijn deel.

18 Ook een iegelijk mens, aan denwelken God rijkdom en goederen gegeven heeft, en Hij geeft hem de macht, om daarvan te eten, en om zijn deel te nemen, en om zich te verheugen van zijn arbeid, datzelve is een gave van God.

19 Want hij zal niet veel gedenken aan de dagen zijns levens, dewijl hem God hem verhoort in de blijdschap zijns harten.

20

Prediker 5:15-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ECCLESIASTES 5

This chapter contains some rules and directions concerning the worship of God; how persons should behave when they go into the house of God; concerning hearing the word, to which there should be a readiness, and which should be preferred to the sacrifices of fools, Ec 5:1. Concerning prayer to God; which should not be uttered rashly and hastily, and should be expressed in few words; which is urged from the consideration of the majesty of God, and vileness of men; and the folly of much speaking is exposed by the simile of a dream, Ec 5:2,3. Concerning vows, which should not be rashly made; when made, should be kept; nor should excuses be afterwards framed for not performing them, since this might bring the anger of God upon men, to the destruction of the works of their hands, Ec 5:4-6; and, as an antidote against those vanities, which appear in the prayers and vows of some, and dreams of others, the fear of God is proposed, Ec 5:7; and, against any surprise at the oppression of the poor, the majesty, power, and providence of God, and his special regard to his people, are observed, Ec 5:8. And then the wise man enters into a discourse concerning riches; and observes, that the fruits of the earth, and the culture of it, are necessary to all men, and even to the king, Ec 5:9; but dissuades from covetousness, or an over love of riches; because they are unsatisfying, are attended with much trouble, often injurious to the owners of them; at length perish, and their possessors; who, at death, are stripped quite naked of all, after they have spent their days in darkness and distress, Ec 5:10-17; and concludes, therefore, that it is best for a man to enjoy, in a free manner, the good things of this life he is possessed of, and consider them as the gifts of God, and be thankful for them; by which means he will pass through the world more comfortably, and escape the troubles that attend others, Ec 5:18-20.