Commentary on Ecclesiastes

Chapter 4

189 CHAPTER IV CHAPTER 4 ECCLESIASTES 4:1-6 VANITY OF MALICE IN SUBJECTS 1. I turned myself to other things, etc. He has dealt with the vanity of malice in prelates. Now he treats of it in subjects . Vanity of malice is considered here under three headings . First, the heading of oppression in harming maliciously . Second, the heading of envy in being saddened maliciously where verse 4 reads: Again I considered. Third, the heading of sloth by abandoning a good work where verse 5 has: The fool folds his hands. 2. (Verses 1-3). He describes the vanity of oppression, and in his reflection on oppression he states: I turned myself to other things. Supply: for reflection. And I saw the oppressions that are done under the sun, that is, in this world. Ezekiel 22:29 reads: “The people of the land have used oppression and committed robbery. They afflicted the needy and poor, and they oppressed the stranger by calumny without judgment.” A violent seizing of goods is called oppression , when done not in justice, but in malice. 3. And he goes on to state the increase of misfortune, because of the oppressions that are done and because people are oppressed unjustly with no consolation and without remedy. – Unjustly, because he says: And the tears of the innocent, namely, on account of such oppression. Job 35:9 190 ST. BONAVENTURE’S COMMENTARY ON ECCLESIASTES states: “By reason of the multitude of oppressors they will cry out and will wail on account of the violence from the arm of tyrants.” – With no consolation, because they had no comforter, a situation that increases cruelty. Lamentations 1:2 says: “There is no one to comfort her among all those who were dear to her.” Sirach 7:38 talks about the contrary: “Be not wanting in comforting those who weep. And walk with those who mourn.” – Not only do they lack a comforter, but they are also without remedy. So he adds: They were not able to resist their violence, being destitute of all help. Supply: I saw. Of such malice we read in Proverbs 22:22: “Do no violence to a poor person, because he is poor. Do not oppress the needy in the gate.” Thus, 2 Chronicles 20:12 reads: “As for us we have not strength enough to be able to resist this multitude that comes violently upon us.” 4. Concerning a detestation of sin the text continues: And I praised the dead rather than the living, namely, in that they do not see this evil and cruelty which no good person can see without sorrow. In 1 Kings 19:4 Elijah said: “It is enough for me, Lord. Take away my soul, for I am no better than my fathers.” – And I judged that person happier than them both, namely, any dead or living person who is not yet born nor has seen the evils that are done under the sun. He speaks as if to see or to have seen such evils is a great misfortune. 1 Maccabees 2:7 reads:“Mattathias said: Woe is me. Wherefore was I born to see the ruin of my people and the ruin of the holy city and to dwell there?” So he has given a reflection on oppression and an increase of misery, because the oppressed are desolate and without assistance. And so he comes to a detestation of the sin. 5. (Verse 4). Again I considered, etc. Second, he treats of the vanity of envy, when a person out of malice is sad to see a neighbor’s good fortune and prosperity. So he adds: 191 CHAPTER IV Again I considered.1 This consideration or contemplation is a free and penetrating and fixed gaze.2 I considered and contemplated, he says, all the labors of men and women, with regard to the body; and their industries, with respect to the soul. – Or: labors and industries, that is, efforts. For the other translation reads:every effort at work.3 Note what he had said earlier in 2:18: “Again I hated all my application wherewith I had earnestly labored under the sun.” And I remarked, that is, saw in my soul. That their industries are exposed, that is,laid open to the envy of their neighbors , because when they see them, they are immediately sad. Sirach 14:8 says: “The eye of the envious is wicked, and...