Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
oppression—recurring to the idea (Ecclesiastes 3:16; Ecclesiastes 5:8). Its connection with Ecclesiastes 7:4-6 is, the sight of "oppression" perpetrated by "fools" might tempt the "wise" to call in question God's dispensations, and imitate the folly (equivalent to "madness") described (Ecclesiastes 7:5,6). WEISS, for "oppression," translates, "distraction," produced by merriment. But Ecclesiastes 5:8 favors English Version.
a gift—that is, the sight of bribery in "places of judgment" (Ecclesiastes 3:16) might cause the wise to lose their wisdom (equivalent to "heart"), (Job 12:6; Job 21:6-7; Job 24:1, etc.). This suits the parallelism better than "a heart of gifts"; a benevolent heart, as WEISS.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Ecclesiastes 7:7:
Ecclesiastes 7:8
Hosea 4:11
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