For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all [is] vanity.
Ver. 19. For that which befalleth the sons of men.] As hunger, thirst, heat, cold, diseases, aches, and other ill accidents.
As the one dieth.] They are sure to die, both of them.
Yea, they have all one breath.] They breathe in the same air, and expire alike, in respect of the body. a
So that a man hath no pre-eminence.] Unless it be in reason and speech, which he frequently abuseth to his own utter destruction. But otherwise -
“ Nos aper auditu praecellit, aranea tactu,
Vultur odoratu, lynx visu, simia gustu. ”
a Nec te tua plurima Pentheu,
Labentem texit pietas.