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Expanded Comments |
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| 1 The words of the Proclaimer, son of David, king in Jerusalem. |
Words of the Preacher – Written in later life, when Solomon's heart had grown sick with excess of sensuous pleasures. R1517:5, R1532:2
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| 2 Vanity of vanities! saith the Proclaimer, vanity of vanities! all, is vanity. |
Vanity of vanities – Proving his theme from his own experience, Solomon counsels to others a different course. R1517:5
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| 3 What profit hath Man, in all his toil wherewith he toileth under the sun? |
What profit – An important question, especially for the young; but all would do well to carefully consider it. R1532:2
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| 4 Generation, goeth and, generation, cometh, but, the earth, unto times age-abiding, remaineth. |
But the earth – The physical earth. A69
"God created it to be inhabited." (Isa. 45:18) R1116:6*; SM313:T
Abideth for ever – Therefore not to be destroyed by the great tribulations, earthquakes, etc., predicted in the Scriptures. HG398:3; HG417:5
Despite the conclusions of science that the solar system is gradually running down and that eventually the earth will become cold and lifeless. Q771:1
The elements that are for man's supplies will never be exhausted; but will be re-utilized in new forms in a circle that will last into eternity. Q772:2
Therefore "the time of the end" (Dan. 12:4) refers to the end of the age or dispensation, and not to the end of the world. Dxv; OV26:3; Q848:4; HG314:3
In spite of all the creeds of Christendom to the contrary. R2971:2
Ages may end and be succeeded by other ages, but the same physical earth remains. PD18/26; R1615:4
We anticipate that some change will take place in the near future, making the earth more fit than at present for the Millennial kingdom. R3154:6
There is no reason why it should be destroyed; it is not to be burned up with literal fire. SM318:1, SM791:1; R5364:4, R3074:6
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| 5 And the sun, breaketh forth, and the sun, goeth in,–yea, unto his own place, he panteth, from whence he brake forth. |
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| 6 Going unto the south, and circling unto the north,–circling, circling continually, is, the wind, and, over its own circuits, returneth the wind. |
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| 7 All the streams, flow into the sea, yet, the sea, is not full,–unto the place whither the streams flow, thither, do they again flow. |
They return again – So shall it be with the Word of the Lord, it shall not return unto him void, without fruit. R3598:4
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| 8 All words, are weak, unable is any man to tell,–not satisfied is the eye by seeing, nor filled is the ear with hearing. |
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| 9 That which hath been, is the same that shall be, and, that which hath been done, is the same that shall be done,–and there is, nothing new, under the sun. |
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| 10 Is there a thing, of which it can be said, See here, it is, new? Already, hath it been, for ages, [it is something] which was before us. |
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| 11 There is, no remembrance, of the thing before,–nor, even of the things after, which shall be, will there be any remembrance, with them who shall come after. |
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| 12 I, the Proclaimer, was king over Israel, in Jerusalem. |
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| 13 And I gave my heart to seek and to search out, wisely, concerning all things which are done under the heavens,–the same, is the vexatious employment God hath given to the sons of men, to work toilsomely therein, |
Sore travail – The present experience under the dominion of sin. R1533:5
Thus testifies one of the most successful men, from the world's standpoint, that ever lived. R1532:3
Exercised therewith – So that when the Millennial kingdom comes they may be ready for the duty of submission to God. R1533:5
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| 14 I saw all the works which were done under the sun,–and lo! all, was vanity, and a feeding on wind. |
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| 15 That which is crooked, cannot be straight,–and, that which is wanting, cannot be reckoned. |
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| 16 Spake, I, in my heart, saying, As for me, lo! I have become great, and have gathered wisdom, beyond any one who hath been before me over Jerusalem,–and, my heart, hath seen much wisdom and knowledge: |
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| 17 yea I have given my heart, to know wisdom, and to know madness, and folly,–I know that, even this, is a feeding on wind. |
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| 18 For, in much wisdom, is much vexation,–and, he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth pain. |
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