Eclesiastes 7
Origen of Alexandria · Comentário Patrístico (catena)
Eclesiastes 7:16
Neither those who love too much nor those who hate, abide by the rule of truth. The former lie through love; the latter lie through hatred. It is right to place a bridle even on charity and to permit it freedom to roam only insofar as it does not rush headlong over a cliff. Scripture says, in Ecclesiastes, "Do not be righteous in excess, nor think yourself more than you are, lest perhaps you should be struck dumb." Following this, I can say something similar. Do not love a man "with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with all your strength." Do not love an angel "with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with all your strength." In accord with the Savior's words, keep this command in respect to God alone. For, he says, "You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with all your strength." — HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 25:6
Eclesiastes 7:19
The inhabited world arises in no other way than in the wisdom of God. For "wisdom gives strength to the wise beyond ten rulers who live in the city." "And the one who despises wisdom and instruction is miserable, and his hope empty, and his labors unprofitable, and his works useless," says the Book of Wisdom ascribed to Solomon. Hence insofar as possible, since the inhabited world is set aright in the wisdom of God, let us ourselves desire that our inhabited world, which perhaps has fallen, be set aright. For this inhabited world has fallen whenever we went to the place of affliction. This inhabited world has fallen whenever "we sinned, did wrong, acted wickedly," and it has need of being set aright. — HOMILIES ON JEREMIAH 8:1.3
Eclesiastes 7:20
And it is likely also that in countless other things demons delude us and influence us to act according to their will. And it is possible that, just as no one among us is "clean from defilement," and there is no "just person on the earth who will do good and will not sin," so also there is no one who has always been free of demons and has never fallen victim to their influence. — COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 20:328
Eclesiastes 7:20
If you wish to recall some other of the saints, the word of Scripture replies to you, saying, "There is no one upon the earth who does good and sins not." Therefore only Jesus rightly "has perfect hands"; who alone "does not sin," that is, who has perfect and whole works of his hands. — HOMILIES ON LEVITICUS 12:3.2