11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
12 And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.
13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
The preceding text describes Solomon's admittedly wild abandon into drinking wine (verse 2); then into planting gardens and accumulation of cattle; silver and gold again something he was warned against doing. Deuteronomy 17:16-17 states:
16But the king must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire more horses, for the LORD has said, 'You are never to go back that way again.' 17He must not take many wives for himself, lest his heart go astray. He must not accumulate for himself large amounts of silver and gold.
The end of this chapter illustrates Solomon's conclusion of the value of wisdom; but the fact that the wise and foolish all come to one fate; and they are forgotten quickly.
Ecclesiastes 3
Verses 1-8 are the famous verses in the song written originally in 1959 by Pete Seeger called "Turn, turn, turn" and later performed by Judy Collins and the Byrds in the 1960s. They added the verse "I swear it's not to late" when referring to a time of peace which fit into the whole concept of the peace movements against Vietnam at the time. Other than that additional verse the song sticks pretty well with the scriptural text and is certainly a good way to remember it. It is interesting that Solomon looks at war and such matters and seems to accept it along with the rest of the good and bad in light of the fact that he basically had peace during his reign.
Verses 11-13
11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
12 And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.
13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
The preceding text describes Solomon's admittedly wild abandon into drinking wine (verse 2); then into planting gardens and accumulation of cattle; silver and gold again something he was warned against doing. Deuteronomy 17:16-17 states:
16But the king must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire more horses, for the LORD has said, 'You are never to go back that way again.' 17He must not take many wives for himself, lest his heart go astray. He must not accumulate for himself large amounts of silver and gold.
The end of this chapter illustrates Solomon's conclusion of the value of wisdom; but the fact that the wise and foolish all come to one fate; and they are forgotten quickly.
Ecclesiastes 3
Verses 1-8 are the famous verses in the song written originally in 1959 by Pete Seeger called "Turn, turn, turn" and later performed by Judy Collins and the Byrds in the 1960s. They added the verse "I swear it's not to late" when referring to a time of peace which fit into the whole concept of the peace movements against Vietnam at the time. Other than that additional verse the song sticks pretty well with the scriptural text and is certainly a good way to remember it. It is interesting that Solomon looks at war and such matters and seems to accept it along with the rest of the good and bad in light of the fact that he basically had peace during his reign.
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