Matthew Poole Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:8 - 4:8

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Matthew Poole Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:8 - 4:8


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:





One alone; either,



1. Who lives by himself, as grudging that any ether should partake of his provisions. Or rather,



2. Who hath none but himself to care and labour for, as the next words explain it.



He hath neither child nor brother, to whom he may leave his vast estate.



Yet is there no end of all his labour; he lives in perpetual restlessness and excessive toils.



His eye, i.e. his covetous mind or desire, fitly expressed by the eye, partly because that is the incentive of this sin, Jos_7:21; and partly because he hath no good by his riches, saving the beholding of them with his eyes, as it is affirmed, Ecc_5:11, compared with Ecc_2:10 1Jo_2:16. Neither saith he, within himself; he considers nothing but how he may get more and more. For whom do I labour? having no posterity nor kindred to enjoy it, as was now said. Shall I take all this pains for a stranger, possibly for an enemy, who will reap the fruit of all my labours? Bereave my soul of good; deity myself those comforts and conveniencies which God hath allowed unto me.



A sore travail; a dreadful judgment and misery as well as a great sin.