If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they. (9) Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field. (10) He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. (11) When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? (12) The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. (13) There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. (14) But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand. (15) As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. (16) And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind? (17) All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness. (18) Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. (19) Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. (20) For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.
I make no interruption in the reading of these verses, for one general observation belongs to all; and the Preacher's whole design from them is to impress yet stronger upon the mind, the great subject he hath in view. In everything short of Christ, Solomon finds vanity. And whether the Reader hath discovered his design in these sermons contained in Ecclesiastes we have already gone through, or not; certain it is, that the main object intended from the whole, is to lead to somewhat higher than this world can bestow; and that somewhat is Christ. Happy will it be for both Writer and Reader, if from the perusal, like Solomon himself, we form the same conclusion, and in Jesus behold where God the Father hath centered all things that pertain to life and godliness. 2 Peter 1:1-4.