Ecclesiastes 7:20 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

For; so this is a reason either,

1. Of the foregoing counsels, Ecclesiastes 7:10-18, the 19th verse being interposed only as a proof of the last clause of Ecclesiastes 7:18. Or,

2. To show the necessity and advantage of that wisdom commended Ecclesiastes 7:19, because all men are very prone to folly and sin, and therefore need that wisdom which is from above to direct and keep them from it. But this particle may be, and elsewhere is, commonly rendered yet; and so the sense is, Although wisdom doth exceedingly strengthen a man, yet it doth not so strengthen him, as if it would keep him from falling into all sin. Or, because; or, seeing that; and so this relates to the following verse, Seeing all men sin, we should be ready to pardon the offences of others against us, either by word or deed. Or, surely; and so it is an entire sentence, such as there are many in this book. There is not a just man upon earth, whereby he manifestly implies that the just in heaven are perfect and sinless, that doeth good, and sinneth not; who is universally and perfectly good, and free from all sin.

Ecclesiastes 7:20

20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.