The Pulpit Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:19

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

Who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? The bitter feeling that he has to leave the fruits of his lifelong labor to another is aggravated by the thought that he knows not the character of this successor, whether he will be worthy or not.

As the psalmist says, "He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them" (Psalms 39:6). Again in the parable, "The things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?" (Luke 12:20; comp.

Ecclesiasticus 11:18, 19). Yet shall he have rule, etc. Whatever may be his character, he will have free use and control of all that I have gathered by my labor directed by prudence and wisdom. Vulgate, Domina-bitur in laboribus meis quibus desudavi et sollicitus fui.

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