Remember Your Creator 1 Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw near, when you shall say, I have no pleasure in them;
Gregory of Neocaesarea · AD 270 Moreover, it is fight that you should fear God while you are yet young, before you give yourself over to evil things, and before the great and terrible day of God comes, when the sun shall no longer shine, neither the moon, nor the rest of the stars, but when in that storm and commotion of all things, the powers above shall be moved, that is, the angels who guard the world; so…
Jerome · AD 420 "Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when you shall say, I have no pleasure in them; "In this chapter there were many explanations of all things and almost as many opinions as men themselves.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 He describes punishment in general with respect to three things: first, with respect to the presence of what is harmful; second, with respect to the absence of what is pleasant; third, with respect to the lack of remedy; from the consideration of which he exhorts us to remember God.
2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
Jerome · AD 420 "While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain. "If we take this from the creation of the world, this chapter agrees with the words of the Lord, in which He says, "there will be trouble and difficulty as there has not been since the beginning of creation, but this will not happen.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 With respect to the absence of what is pleasant, he says: "Before the sun grows dark," in whose sight there is great delight: above in chapter eleven: "The light is sweet, and it is delightful for the eyes to see the sun"; whence Tobit 5: "What joy shall be to me, who sit in darkness and do not see the light of heaven?" And to signify the complete absence, he excludes every hea…
3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,
Jerome · AD 420 " In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves; "The keepers of the house can be interpreted as either the sun and the moon, and the remaining choir of stars, or the angels who keep watch over this world.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 He shows the future weakening in old age with respect to six kinds of members. First, with respect to the shaking of the bones, which are ordered to protecting the body, when he says: "When the keepers of the house shall tremble." The house is the frame of the body: this is fragile, and therefore needs a keeper; and so the Philosopher says that nature made the bones hard for gu…
4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low;
Didymus the Blind · AD 398 "Bird" can here mean the Savior in his human nature.…But also the message of truth itself can be called "bird" for this time. It can be compared for this time with a bird that comes from on high, from where truth came to the listeners. Since, however, now even the perfect listeners are lifted up and strive for what is above the earth, the "bird on the roof" calls to them.
Jerome · AD 420 "And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low. "When the voice of the grinder is weak and the teaching of a tutor has stopped, then in turn all things will stop.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 Fifth, with respect to the immobilization of the lips for speaking, when he says: "And the doors shall be shut in the street": the doors are the lips, by which the gate of the mouth is closed.
5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goes to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:
Gregory of Neocaesarea · AD 270 Cities and their bloodstained leaders will wait for punishment from above. A most bitter and bloody time will arise like a blossoming almond tree, continuous punishments will be imposed like a swarm of flying locusts, and lawbreakers will be thrown out of the way like a black and contemptible caper plant.
Jerome · AD 420 "Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way. "That is, they will not be able to enter on difficult tasks and with tired knees and frightened footsteps, will not be able to go out in the open, and will fear the offence of steps." And the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man…
Bonaventure · AD 1257 He adds the signs of debilitation, which are four: tremor of the body, whiteness of the head, swelling of the belly, and cooling of desire.
6 Before the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
Gregory of Neocaesarea · AD 270 Neither stored silver nor tested gold will be of any further use. A mighty blow will strike everything, right down to a water pot standing next to a well, and to a carriage wheel which happens to have been left in the ditch, its time of revolving ceased, and to the life that, by water, has passed through the age of washing.
Jerome · AD 420 "Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern." He returns to former matter and after a rather large exaggeration, -which he interposes in this place, in which he says, "and remember your Creator, in the day of your youth; before the days of wickedness come, and before the sun, moon…
Bonaventure · AD 1257 He touches on the miseries following death, which are the dissolution of the body and the migration of the spirit to God. First is noted the dissolution of the sinews, when he says: "Before the silver cord is broken," and the phrase must be repeated: "Remember your Creator" etc.
7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return to God who gave it.
Cyprian · AD 258 We ask that the will of God may be done both in heaven and in earth, each of which things pertains to the fulfillment of our safety and salvation. For since we possess the body from the earth and the spirit from heaven, we ourselves are earth and heaven; and in both—that is, both in body and spirit—we pray that God's will may be done.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 Near the end of the book called Ecclesiastes there is a passage about the dissolution of man, brought about by that death through which the soul is separated from the body, where the Scripture says, "And let the dust return into its earth, as it was, and the spirit return to God who gave it." This authoritative statement is unquestionably true and leads no one into error.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 Fifth, the incineration of the whole body is noted, when it is said: "And let the dust return to its earth, whence it was," that is, let the body be reduced to ashes, according to that passage in Genesis 3: "You are dust, and to dust you shall return." "To its earth," because it is from it: Sirach 40: "All things that are made of earth shall return to earth." Sixth, the return…
8 Vanity of vanities, says the preacher; all is vanity.
John Chrysostom · AD 407 Hear what Solomon says, who knew the present world by actual experience. "I builded me houses, I planted me vineyards, I made me gardens, and orchards and pools of water. I gathered me also silver and gold. I gat myself men-singers, and women-singers, and flocks, and herds." There was no one who lived in greater luxury, or higher glory.
Jerome · AD 420 "Vanity of vanities says Ecclesiastes; all is vanity." Then after the description of man's death, he goes back to the beginning of his book, saying, "vanity of vanities, says Ecclesiastes, all is vanity" [Eccl. 1,2.].
Bonaventure · AD 1257 As was said from the beginning of the book, this entire book has an order directed toward proving one proposition, which he set forth at the beginning of the book, namely this: "Vanity of vanities" etc.
The Whole Duty of Man 9 And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
Jerome · AD 420 "And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 In this epilogue, first the diligence of the writer is noted, because, since he was wise, he did not hide his wisdom but declared it to others. Therefore he says: "And since Ecclesiastes was most wise": 3 Kings 4: "The wisdom of Solomon surpassed the wisdom of all the Orientals; and he was wiser than all men." Since he was thus wise, he was not negligent but diligent.
10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 Second, the book of Proverbs is touched upon, when he says: "And searching, he composed parables, which are useful words," that is, in Proverbs: at the beginning of Proverbs: "The parables of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel, for knowing wisdom and discipline, for understanding the words of prudence." Third, the book of the Song of Songs is touched upon, when he says: "And…
11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
Origen of Alexandria · AD 253 And likewise it is a pleasant thing to endeavor to understand and exhibit the fact of the concord of the two covenants—of the one before the bodily advent of the Savior and of the new covenant.
Jerome · AD 420 "The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. "The teacher should not be seen to break from the law of God and afterwards to justify teaching by himself, more hastily than Moses not so much of his own will, as first by the anger of God, took teachings therefrom with enthusiasm.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 This counsel has been confirmed by the twelve Apostles and by the counsels of the Saints. Whence it is said in Ecclesiastes: 'The words of the wise are like goads and like nails driven deep, which were given through the counsel of masters by one shepherd.' If you want the testimony of the Saints concerning these counsels, seek Anthony, Paphnutius, and Macarius, who all resolved…
12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
Origen of Alexandria · AD 253 First of all, we set forth the command from Ecclesiastes: "My son, beware of making many books." I juxtapose for comparison with this the saying from the Proverbs of the same Solomon, who says, "In a multitude of words you will not escape sins, but you will be wise if you restrain your lips." And I inquire, therefore, if speaking many words, regardless of what they are, is bein…
Jerome · AD 420 "And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. "If you remove the words which are given by the one shepherd, related by the advice and agreement of the wise, do nothing and nothing will be reproved you; follow in the footsteps of the multitude and do not diverge from their command.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 The curiosity of the hearers is restrained, whom he addresses under the person of a son, saying: "More than these, my son, do not seek," so as to always wish to hear new things: for it suffices to know what is necessary: Sirach 3: "The things that God has commanded you, think upon them always, and in many of his works be not curious." And a twofold reason is given for this admo…
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Shepherd of Hermas · AD 160 "Fear," said he, "the Lord, and keep His commandments. For if you keep the commandments of God, you will be powerful in every action, and every one of your actions will be incomparable. For, fearing the Lord, you will do all things well. This is the fear which you ought to have, that you may be saved.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 Solomon's book in which these words appear is called Ecclesiastes. Translated, this name means "Preacher." Now, in preaching one expresses sentiments that tend to quiet a noisy crowd. And when there are many people holding opinions of various kinds, they are brought into harmony by the reasoning of the speaker.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 A bird cannot fly without two wings, nor can a man walk without two feet. Similarly, no one can be a perfect observer of the commandments of God unless he is filled with fear and love. But man is not filled with fear except from the consideration of divine severity, nor is he filled with love except from the consideration of divine goodness.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Athanasius of Alexandria · AD 373 Consider how grave an error it is to call God's Word a work. Solomon says in one place in Ecclesiastes that "God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil." If then the Word is a work, do you mean that he as well as others will be brought into judgment?
Nilus of Sinai · AD 451 Nor is a resurrection declared only for the martyrs, but for all persons, righteous and unrighteous, godly and ungodly, that everyone may receive according to his desert. For God, says the Scripture, "will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil."
Bonaventure · AD 1257 And the reason why God is to be feared and His commandments are to be observed is this: because He will demand an account of all things, whether of good or of evil.