Eclesiastes 5
Evagrius Ponticus · Comentário Patrístico (catena)
Eclesiastes 5:2
"We do not know how to pray as we ought." He is not so much talking [about prayer] at this point as issuing a command not to theologize thoughtlessly. Indeed, anyone who belongs to this material world and whose thoughts have their origin in this world cannot speak about God without error—or on other matters that elude the senses. That is why he says, "And let your words be few," that is, they should be true and well chosen. I think also that "few" means the same as in the following texts: "Better a little with righteousness than an abundance of riches with sinners." And, "Better is the receiving of a little with righteousness." But to those who do not observe this, he says, "For as a dream comes when there are many cares, so is the fool's voice with many words." …He also talks about "the voice of a fool," coming up with false words and beguiling the soul. This is "the voice of the slanderer and reviler." He is also able to apply this to the voice of the fool who "by a multitude of words you will not escape sin." — SCHOLIA ON ECCLESIASTES 35:5.1-2
Eclesiastes 5:10
If, he says, you see among people those on the one hand who are oppressed and those on the other who do wrong in judgment, and still others who practice justice, do not be amazed that this occurs as if there were no divine foresight. Rather, know that God guards everything through Christ and that he also exercises his provision over everything through his holy angels, who excel in their knowledge of earthly events. God is the ruler of the world that he created, and he allots suffering to those who prefer greed and the vanity of this life to knowledge of Christ. But to those who live their lives in goodness, conduct themselves with courage and serve justly, he grants the knowledge of God and a peaceful rest. He grants this whether their knowledge was small or great here, for "we know in part and we prophesy in part." But in the end, he will receive these, while those who were filled with wickedness will find no rest from the worm produced by their evil. — SCHOLIA ON ECCLESIASTES 38:5.7-11
Eclesiastes 5:12-13
An abundance of evil can be revealed in wealth. But this type of evil should be viewed as more of a weakness. Therefore, everyone who guards his wealth for himself does not know the wisdom of God, nor is his heart inclined to insight, nor to instructing his children. He has neither received the words of God's commandments nor has he hidden them in his heart. — SCHOLIA ON ECCLESIASTES 39:5.12-13