Ecclesiastes 7:15

“All [things] have I seen in the days of my vanity, etc.] Or, “all these things”f167. What goes before and follows after, the various changes men are subject unto, both good and bad; these he had made his observations upon, throughout the course of his life, which had been a vain one, as every man’s is, full of evil and trouble; (see <210612>Ecclesiastes 6:12); perhaps the wise man may have some respect to the times of his apostasy; and which might, among other things, be brought on by this; observing good men afflicted, and the wicked prosper, which has often been a stumbling to good men; there is a just [man] that perisheth in his righteousness; not eternally; no truly just man ever…”

“An objection entertained by Solomon in the days of his vanity--his apostasy (Ecc 8:14; Job 21:7). just . . . perisheth-- (Kg1 21:13). Temporal not eternal death (Joh 10:28). But see on Ecc 7:16; "just" is probably a self-justiciary. wicked . . . prolongeth--See the antidote to the abuse of this statement in Ecc 8:12.”

“The days of my vanity - This does not imply that those days of vanity were ended (see Ecclesiastes 1:12 note). The meaning may be best explained by a paraphrase. Solomon states how the wise man should regard the “crooked Ecclesiastes 7:13 work of God” when it bears upon him. He says in effect, “Do not think that thou couldest alter the two instances (described in Ecclesiastes 7:15) of such crooked work so as to make it straight, that thou art more righteous or more wise than He is Who ordained these events. To set up thy judgment in opposition to His would imply an excess of wickedness and folly, deserving the punishment of premature death. But rather it is good for thee to grasp these…”

“All - All sorts of events. My vanity - Since I have come into this vain life. Perisheth - Yea, for his righteousness, which exposes him to the envy, anger, or hatred of wicked men. Wickedness - Notwithstanding all his wickedness. Ecclesiastes 7:16”

“have I: Ecc 2:23, Ecc 5:16, Ecc 5:17, Ecc 6:12; Gen 47:9; Psa 39:6 there is a just: Ecc 3:16, Ecc 8:14, Ecc 9:1, Ecc 9:2; Sa1 22:18, Sa1 22:19; Kg1 21:13; Ch2 24:21, Ch2 24:22; Job 9:22, Job 9:23; Mat 23:34, Mat 23:35; Joh 16:2; Act 7:52 there is a wicked: Ecc 8:12, Ecc 8:13; Job 21:7-15; Psa 73:3-13; Isa 65:20; Jer 12:1, Jer 12:2 Ecclesiastes 7:16”

“The first of these counsels warns against extremes, on the side of good as well as on that of evil: "All have I seen in the days of my vanity: there are righteous men who perish by their righteousness, and there are wicked men who continue long by their wickedness. Be not righteous over-much, and show not thyself wise beyond measure: why wilt thou ruin thyself? Be not wicked overmuch, and be no fool: why wilt thou die before thy time is? It is good that thou holdest thyself to the one, and also from the other withdrawest not thine hand: for he that feareth God accomplisheth it all." One of the most original English interpreters of the Book of Koheleth, T. Tyler (1874), finds in the thoughts…”