9:1 For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all
this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works,
[are] in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or a
hatred [by] all [that is] before them.
(a) Meaning, what things he ought to chose or refuse: or man
knows not by these outward things that is, by prosperity
or adversity, whom God favours or hates, for he sends
them as well to the wicked as to the godly.
9:3 This [is] an evil among all [things] that are done under the
sun, that [there is] one b event to all: yea, also the
heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness [is]
in their heart while they live, and after that [they go] to
the dead.
(b) In outward things, as riches and poverty, sickness and
health, there is no difference between the godly and the
wicked but the difference is that the godly are assured
by faith of God's favour and assistance.
9:4 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope:
for a c living dog is better than a dead lion.
(c) He notes the Epicurean and carnal men, who made their
body their god, and had no pleasure in this life,
wishing rather to be an abased and vile person in this
life, then a man of authority and so to die, which is
meant by the dog and lion.
9:7 Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with
a merry heart; for God now d accepteth thy works.
(d) They flatter themselves to be in God's favour, because
they have all things in abundance.
9:8 Let thy garments be always e white; and let thy head lack
no ointment.
(e) Rejoice, be merry and spare for no cost, thus speak the
wicked belly-gods.
9:11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race [is] not
to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet
bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding,
nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and f chance
happeneth to them all.
(f) Thus the worldlings say to prove that all things are
lawful for them and attribute that to chance and
fortune which is done by the providence of God.
9:12 For man also knoweth not his g time: as the fishes that
are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught
in the snare; so [are] the sons of men snared in an evil
time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
