16 And again, I have seen under the sun the place of judgment—there 'is' the wicked; and the place of righteousness—there 'is' the wicked. 17 I said in my heart, 'The righteous and the wicked doth God judge, for a time 'is' to every matter and for every work there.' 18 I said in my heart concerning the matter of the sons of man that God might cleanse them, so as to see that they themselves 'are' beasts. 19 For an event 'is to' the sons of man, and an event 'is to' the beasts, even one event 'is' to them; as the death of this, so 'is' the death of that; and one spirit 'is' to all, and the advantage of man above the beast is nothing, for the whole 'is' vanity. 20 The whole are going unto one place, the whole have been from the dust, and the whole are turning back unto the dust. 21 Who knoweth the spirit of the sons of man that is going up on high, and the spirit of the beast that is going down below to the earth? 22 And I have seen that there is nothing better than that man rejoice in his works, for it 'is' his portion; for who doth bring him in to look on that which is after him?
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:16-22
Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:16-22
(Read Ecclesiastes 3:16-22)
Without the fear of the Lord, man is but vanity; set that aside, and judges will not use their power well. And there is another Judge that stands before the door. With God there is a time for the redressing of grievances, though as yet we see it not. Solomon seems to express his wish that men might perceive, that by choosing this world as their portion, they brought themselves to a level with the beasts, without being free, as they are, from present vexations and a future account. Both return to the dust from whence they were taken. What little reason have we to be proud of our bodies, or bodily accomplishments! But as none can fully comprehend, so few consider properly, the difference between the rational soul of man, and the spirit or life of the beast. The spirit of man goes upward, to be judged, and is then fixed in an unchangeable state of happiness or misery. It is as certain that the spirit of the beast goes downward to the earth; it perishes at death. Surely their case is lamentable, the height of whose hopes and wishes is, that they may die like beasts. Let our inquiry be, how an eternity of existence may be to us an eternity of enjoyment? To answer this, is the grand design of revelation. Jesus is revealed as the Son of God, and the Hope of sinners.