For
in an abundance of wisdom is an abundance of frustration,
and he who increases in knowledge also increases in sorrow.
Ecclesiastes 1:18 Modern English Version (MEV)
**************
For
in much wisdom is much grief,.... In getting it, and losing it when it is gotten: or
"indignation" (t), at himself and others; being more sensible of the
follies and weakness of human nature;
and
he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow: for, the more he knows, the more he would
know, and is more eager after it, and puts himself to more pains and trouble to
acquire it; and hereby becomes more and more sensible of his own ignorance; and
of the difficulty of attaining the knowledge he would come at; and of the
insufficiency of it to make him easy and happy: and besides, the more knowledge
he has, the more envy it draws upon him from others, who set themselves to
oppose him, and detract from his character; in short, this is the sum of all
human knowledge and wisdom, attained to in the highest degree; instead of
making men comfortable and happy, it is found to be mere vanity, to cause
vexation and disquietude of mind, and to promote grief and sorrow. There is
indeed wisdom and knowledge opposite to this, and infinitely more excellent,
and which, the more it is increased, the more joy and comfort it brings; and
this is wisdom in the hidden part; a spiritual and experimental knowledge of
Christ, and of God in Christ, and of divine and evangelical truths; but short
of this knowledge there is no true peace, comfort, and happiness. The Targum
is,
"for
a man who multiplies wisdom, when he sins and does not turn by repentance, he
multiplies indignation from the Lord; and he who increases knowledge, and dies
in his youth, increases grief of heart to those who are near akin to him.''
(t) רב כעס "multa ira", Pagninus, Montanus;
"indignatio", V. L. Tigurine version, Vatablus, Drusius; "multum
indignationis", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
John
Gill’s Exposition of the Bible
**************
Greed
for more knowledge is no different from greed for anything else like wealth and
power. It can become an obsession. We tell ourselves that just a little bit
more and we’ll be satisfied, but that satisfaction never comes. We are never
content with what we have, particularly when someone else has more.
and he who increases in knowledge also increases in sorrow.
Ecclesiastes 1:18 Modern English Version (MEV)
No comments:
Post a Comment