13 Better H2896 is a poor H4542 and a wise H2450 child H3206 than an old H2205 and foolish H3684 king, H4428 who will H3045 no more be admonished. H2094
Now there was found H4672 in it a poor H4542 wise H2450 man, H376 and he by his wisdom H2451 delivered H4422 the city; H5892 yet no man H120 remembered H2142 that same poor H4542 man. H376 Then said H559 I, Wisdom H2451 is better H2896 than strength: H1369 nevertheless the poor man's H4542 wisdom H2451 is despised, H959 and his words H1697 are not heard. H8085
These are the generations H8435 of Jacob. H3290 Joseph, H3130 being seventeen H6240 H7651 years H8141 old, H1121 was feeding H7462 the flock H6629 with his brethren; H251 and the lad H5288 was with the sons H1121 of Bilhah, H1090 and with the sons H1121 of Zilpah, H2153 his father's H1 wives: H802 and Joseph H3130 brought H935 unto his father H1 their evil H7451 report. H1681
And the king H4428 of Israel H3478 said H559 unto Jehoshaphat, H3092 There is yet one H259 man, H376 Micaiah H4321 the son H1121 of Imlah, H3229 by whom we may enquire H1875 of the LORD: H3068 but I hate H8130 him; for he doth not prophesy H5012 good H2896 concerning me, but evil. H7451 And Jehoshaphat H3092 said, H559 Let not the king H4428 say H559 so.
For the eyes H5869 of the LORD H3068 run to and fro H7751 throughout the whole earth, H776 to shew himself strong H2388 in the behalf of them whose heart H3824 is perfect H8003 toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: H5528 therefore from henceforth H6258 thou shalt have H3426 wars. H4421 Then Asa H609 was wroth H3707 with the seer, H7200 and put H5414 him in a prison H4115 house; H1004 for he was in a rage H2197 with him because of this thing. And Asa H609 oppressed H7533 some of the people H5971 the same time. H6256
And the Spirit H7307 of God H430 came H3847 upon Zechariah H2148 the son H1121 of Jehoiada H3077 the priest, H3548 which stood H5975 above the people, H5971 and said H559 unto them, Thus saith H559 God, H430 Why transgress H5674 ye the commandments H4687 of the LORD, H3068 that ye cannot prosper? H6743 because ye have forsaken H5800 the LORD, H3068 he hath also forsaken H5800 you. And they conspired H7194 against him, and stoned H7275 him with stones H68 at the commandment H4687 of the king H4428 in the court H2691 of the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068 Thus Joash H3101 the king H4428 remembered H2142 not the kindness H2617 which Jehoiada H3077 his father H1 had done H6213 to him, but slew H2026 his son. H1121 And when he died, H4194 he said, H559 The LORD H3068 look H7200 upon it, and require H1875 it.
And it came to pass, as he talked H1696 with him, that the king said H559 unto him, Art thou made H5414 of the king's H4428 counsel? H3289 forbear; H2308 why shouldest thou be smitten? H5221 Then the prophet H5030 forbare, H2308 and said, H559 I know H3045 that God H430 hath determined H3289 to destroy H7843 thee, because thou hast done H6213 this, and hast not hearkened H8085 unto my counsel. H6098
Better H2896 is the poor H7326 that walketh H1980 in his integrity, H8537 than he that is perverse H6141 in his lips, H8193 and is a fool. H3684
Better H2896 is the poor H7326 that walketh H1980 in his uprightness, H8537 than he that is perverse H6141 in his ways, H1870 though he be rich. H6223
As a roaring H5098 lion, H738 and a ranging H8264 bear; H1677 so is a wicked H7563 ruler H4910 over the poor H1800 people. H5971 The prince H5057 that wanteth H2638 understanding H8394 is also a great H7227 oppressor: H4642 but he that hateth H8130 covetousness H1215 shall prolong H748 his days. H3117
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Ecclesiastes 4
Commentary on Ecclesiastes 4 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 4
Solomon, having shown the vanity of this world in the temptation which those in power feel to oppress and trample upon their subjects, here further shows,
It is not the prerogative even of kings themselves to be exempted from the vanity and vexation that attend these things; let none else then expect it.
Ecc 4:1-3
Solomon had a large soul (1 Ki. 4:29) and it appeared by this, among other things, that he had a very tender concern for the miserable part of mankind and took cognizance of the afflictions of the afflicted. He had taken the oppressors to task (ch. 3:16, 17) and put them in mind of the judgment to come, to be a curb to their insolence; now here he observes the oppressed. This he did, no doubt, as a prince, to do them justice and avenge them of their adversaries, for he both feared God and regarded men; but here he does it as a preacher, and shows,
Ecc 4:4-6
Here Solomon returns to the observation and consideration of the vanity and vexation of spirit that attend the business of this world, which he had spoken of before, ch. 2:11.
Ecc 4:7-12
Here Solomon fastens upon another instance of the vanity of this world, that frequently the more men have of it the more they would have; and on this they are so intent that they have no enjoyment of what they have. Now Solomon here shows,
Ecc 4:13-16
Solomon was himself a king, and therefore may be allowed to speak more freely than another concerning the vanity of kingly state and dignity, which he shows here to be an uncertain thing; he had before said so (Prov. 27:24, The crown doth not endure to every generation), and his son found it so. Nothing is more slippery than the highest post of honour without wisdom and the people's love.