And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek [them] not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.
Ver. 5. And seekest thou great things for thyself?] This is, saith one, as if a man should have his house on fire, and instead of seeking to quench his house, should go and trim up his chambers; or as if, when the ship is sinking, he should seek to enrich his cabin.
Seek them not.] For what so great felicity canst thou fancy to thyself in things so fading, as the case now stands especially?
But thy life will I give thee for a prey.] Which, in these killing and dying times, in such dear years of time, is no small mercy.