קהלת 10:19

Hebrew Modern Translation

לשחוק עשים לחם ויין ישמח חיים והכסף יענה את הכל׃

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Aleppo Codex
לשחוק עשים לחם ויין ישמח חיים והכסף יענה את הכל

Biblia Hebrica Stuttgartensia (1967/77)
לִשְׂחוֹק֙ עֹשִׂ֣ים לֶ֔חֶם וְיַ֖יִן יְשַׂמַּ֣ח חַיִּ֑ים וְהַכֶּ֖סֶף יַעֲנֶ֥ה אֶת־הַכֹּֽל ׃

Westminster Leningrad Codex
לִשְׂחוֹק עֹשִׂים לֶחֶם וְיַיִן יְשַׂמַּח חַיִּים וְהַכֶּסֶף יַעֲנֶה אֶת־הַכֹּֽל ׃

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

feast: Ecclesiastes 2:1, Ecclesiastes 2:2, Ecclesiastes 7:2-6, Genesis 43:34, Daniel 5:1-12, 1 Peter 4:3

and wine: Ecclesiastes 9:7, Psalms 104:15, Isaiah 24:11, 1 Samuel 25:36, 2 Samuel 13:28, Luke 12:19, Ephesians 5:18, Ephesians 5:19

maketh merry: Heb. maketh glad the life

but: Money which would have answered every good purpose, and served for every emergency, is too often spent in feastings and revellings. Ecclesiastes 7:11, Ecclesiastes 7:12, 1 Chronicles 21:24, 1 Chronicles 29:2-9, 2 Chronicles 24:11-14, Ezra 1:6, Ezra 7:15-18, Nehemiah 5:8, Psalms 112:9, Isaiah 23:18, Matthew 17:27, Matthew 19:21, Luke 8:3, Luke 16:9, Acts 2:45, Acts 11:29, Philippians 4:15-19, 1 Timothy 6:17-19

Reciprocal: Judges 9:13 - cheereth Judges 14:10 - made there Ruth 3:7 - his heart Esther 1:10 - the heart Proverbs 21:20 - treasure John 2:3 - they wanted

Gill's Notes on the Bible

A feast is made for laughter,.... Or, "who make bread for laughter" i. Not bakers, who make bread for common use, and for all sorts of persons, sorrowful ones as others; but luxurious men, particularly such princes as are before described; they "make bread", that is, a feast, as the phrase is used, Daniel 5:1; not for mere refreshment, but to promote mirth and gaiety to an excessive degree; being attended with rioting and drunkenness, chambering and wantonness, with revellings and dancing;

and wine maketh merry; or, "and [they prepare] wine" k; which is provided in plenty at feasts; and which is sometimes put for a feast itself, and called a banquet of wine, Esther 7:2; which wine makes merry, and men drink of it till they become drunk with it, at such profuse feasts: or, "which maketh life cheerful" l; as it does, when moderately used: "cheers the living"; so Aben Ezra;

but money answereth all [things]; is in the room of all things, and by it men obtain everything they want and wish for; it answers the requests of all, and supplies them with what they stand in need of, or can desire: particularly such expensive feasts, and sumptuous entertainments, are made by means of money; and, in this luxurious way, the coffers of princes are drained, and they are obliged to raise new levies, and impose new taxes upon their subjects, to the oppression of them. Or else the sense may be, that princes should consider, and not be so profuse in their manner of living, but be more frugal and careful of the public money, and lay it up against a time of need; since it is that that answers all things, is the sinew of war when that arises, and will procure men and arms, to secure and protect them from their enemies, and obtain peace and safety for them and their subjects, which otherwise they cannot expect.

i לשחוק עשים לחם "ad risum facientes panem", Montanus; "faciunt panem", Paganinus, Mercerus, Piscator. k ויין "et vinum, repete, parant", Piscator. l ישמח חיים "et vitam exhilaret", Tigurine version; "exhilarare solet vitam", Mercerus; "quod exhilarare debebat vitam", so some in Rambachius.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Foolish rulers, by their weakness, self-indulgence and sloth, bring decay upon the state: nobleness and temperance insure prosperity: yet the subject must not rebel in word or thought against his king.

Ecclesiastes 10:16

A child - Rather, young. The word is applied to Rehoboam 2 Chronicles 13:7 at the time of his accession to the throne, when he was 41 years old.

Eat in the morning - A sign of intemperance (compare Isaiah 5:11).

Ecclesiastes 10:17

Son of nobles - i. e., of a noble disposition.

Ecclesiastes 10:18

The “building” or “house” represents the state. Compare Isaiah 3:6; Amos 9:10.

Droppeth through - i. e., Lets the rain through the roof.

Ecclesiastes 10:19

literally, For merriment they make a feast (bread), and wine gladdens the living, and money supplies all things.

Ecclesiastes 10:20

Curse - Compare Ecclesiastes 7:21-22.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 19. A feast is made for laughter — The object of it is to produce merriment, to banish care and concern of every kind. But who are they who make and frequent such places? Epicures and drunkards generally; such as those of whom Horace speaks:

Nos numerus sumus, et fruges consumere nati.

Epist. lib. i., ep. 2, ver. 27.

"Those whose names stand as indications of men, the useless many; and who appear to be born only to consume the produce of the soil."

But money answereth all — This saying has prevailed everywhere.

Scilicet uxorem cum dote, fidemque, et amicos,

Et genus, et formam REGINA PECUNIA donat;

Ac bene nummatum decorat Suadela, Venusque.

HOR. EP. lib. i., ep. 6, ver. 36.

"For gold, the sovereign QUEEN of all below,

Friends, honour, birth, and beauty, can bestow.

The goddess of persuasion forms her train;

And Venus decks the well-bemonied swain."

FRANCIS.