A Metaphrase of the Book of Ecclesiastes — Chapter 3

1

The text reads ἐναντιωτήτων, for which Codex Anglicus has ἑναντιωτάτων.

2

Or, age.

3

πλάσμα.

4

Or, Him.

5

The Greek text is, καιροσκόπος δή τις πονηρὸς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦτον περικέχηνεν, ἀφανίσαι ὑπερδιατεινόμενος τὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ πλάσμα, ἐξ ἀρχῆς αὐτῷ μέχρι τέλους πολεμεῖν ᾑρημένος. It is well to notice how widely this differs from our version of iii. 11: “He hath made everything beautiful in his time,” etc.

6

The text is, ᾧ τινι οὖν, ἀλλ᾽ ἔστιν, ἐκεινα φοβερά τε ὁμοῦ καὶ θαυμαστά.

7

σύστασιν.

8

[The key to the interpretation of this book, as to much of the book of Job, is found in the brief expostulation of Jeremiah (chap. xii. 1), where he confesses his inability to comprehend the world and God’s ways therein, yet utters a profession of unshaken confidence in His goodness. Here Solomon, in monologue, gives vent to similar misgivings; overruling all in the wonderful ode with which the book concludes. I say Solomon, not unadvisedly.]

Chapter 3

Notes