Surely every man walks in a vain show: surely they are in turmoil in vain: he heaps up riches, and knows not who shall gather them.
Read Chapter 39
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
11. "Albeit man walketh in the Image" (ver. 6). In what "Image," save that of Him who said, "Let Us make man in Our Image, after Our Likeness." "Albeit man walks in the Image." For the reason he says "albeit," is, that this is some great thing. And this "albeit" is followed by "nevertheless," that the "albeit" which you have already heard, should relate to what is beyond the sun; but this "nevertheless," which is to follow, to what is "under the sun," and that the one should relate to the Truth, the other to "vanity." "Albeit," then, "that man walketh in the Image, nevertheless he is disquieted in vain." Hear the cause of his "disquieting," and see if it be not a vain one; that thou mayest trample it under foot, that thou mayest "leap beyond it," and mayest dwell on high, where that "vanity" is not. What "vanity" is that? "He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not for whom he may be gathering them together." O infatuated vanity! "Blessed is the man that maketh the Lord his trust, and hath ...
Image, "of God. "(St. Gregory) Hebrew, "in a shadow or darkness "where the fall of a leaf affrights him. Life is so short and miserable, why should we strive to heap up riches? (Calmet)
For whom. Hebrew, "who shall gather "(Haydock)
The term is used respecting harvest rather than money. (Calmet)
Hebrew has disquieted in the plural, and the rest of the words in the singular; but St. Jerome agrees with us, conturbatur.& ignorat cui dimittat ea. (Haydock)
The prophet still utters complaints. One step farther is necessary to ensure peace. (Berthier)
He acknowledges that his life is but a shadow, and that we ought not to grieve for temporal losses. (Worthington)
