+III. That there is a moral truth contained here which has nothing to do with material riches or poverty.+ Solomon has, over and over again, directed his hearers to riches which are far more precious than silver or gold (see chap. iii. 14-15; viii. 11-19; also Homiletics and Comments of those verses). The blessing of the Lord is _itself_ wealth. 1. _Because it enriches us with Divine knowledge_ (1 Cor. i. 5). Solomon's knowledge was a higher kind of wealth than all his gold and precious stones, how much more a knowledge of Him whom to know is "life eternal" (John xvii. 3). 2. _Because by means of it men obtain a Divine character_ (2 Pet. i. 2-4). This wealth men can claim as theirs in other worlds beside the one upon which they now live; this is their perpetual untransferable property. +IV. That when sorrow comes to men who have been enriched by God, it springs from some other source than the riches.+ The text does not apply in any sense to ill-gotten gain; that is dealt with elsewhere (chap. i. 19; xv. 27). It refers only to that which a man may lawfully call his own. 1. _But this may be the occasion of sorrow._ Solomon's great wealth was the occasion of sorrow, insomuch as he used it for sinful purposes, but this sorrow was added by himself and not by God. The misuse of riches, or of any other gift of God, will be followed by a penalty which will bring sorrow; but this is man's work, and not God's. 2. _Or sorrow may spring from another, and an independent source._ Sorrow in one form or another is the lot of fallen man. The incarnate Son of God was a "Man of sorrows." God-given and sanctified sorrow is often a token of greater Divine favour than temporal prosperity (chap. iii. 12). But there is no necessary connection between wealth and sorrow. _OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS._ Verse 22. The sluggard looks for prosperity without diligence; the practical atheist from diligence alone; the sound-hearted Christian from the _blessing of God_ in the exercise of diligence. This wise combination keeps him in an active habit; humble, and dependent upon God (John vi. 27). For, "except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it" (Psa. cxxvii. 1). . . . He addeth at least no sorrow but what turns to a blessing. Accumulation of riches may be the accumulation of sorrows. Lot's covetous choice was fraught with bitterness. . . . Gehazi was laden with his bags, but the plague of leprosy was upon him.--_Bridges._