Commentaries:
Adam Clarke
Men of low degree are vanity - beney Adam , which we here translate men of low degree, literally, sons of Adam, are put in opposition to beney ish , men of high degree, literally, the sons of substance, or children of substantial men. Adam was the name of the first man when formed out of the earth; Ish was his name when united to his wife, and they became one flesh. Before, he was the incomplete man; after, he was the complete man; for it seems, in the sight of God, it requires the male and female to make one complete human being. enosh is another name given to man, but this concerns him in his low, fallen, wretched estate: it properly signifies weak, poor, addicted, wretched man.
Common men can give no help. They are vanity, and it is folly to trust in them; for although they may be willing, yet they have no ability to help you: "Rich men are a lie." They promise much, but perform nothing; they cause you to hope, but mock your expectation.
To be laid to the balance - bemozenayim laaloth , In the balances they ascend: exactly answerable to our phrase, they kick the beam.
They are altogether lighter than vanity - Literally, Both of them united are vanity, hemmah mehebel yachad . Put both together in one scale, and truth in the opposite, and both will kick the beam. They weigh nothing, they avail nothing.
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