John Chrysostom

But what is vain? Let us hear the Preacher himself, what he saith; "I planted me vineyards, I gat me men singers and women singers, I made me pools of water, I had great possession of herds and flocks, I gathered me also silver and gold, and I saw that these are vanity." And again, "Vanity of vanities, all things are vanity." Hear also what the Prophet saith, "He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them." Such is "vanity of vanities," your splendid buildings, your vast and overflowing riches, the herds of slaves that …

Homilies on Ephesians, Homily 12 ↗

Jerome

"I acted in grand style: I built myself houses, I planted vineyards; "and others such until the point where he says: "The wise man has his eyes in his head, whereas the fool walks in darkness. "Before I discuss each of these in turn it seems useful to me to encompass all of them in a short paragraph, and to reduce their meanings to just one explanation, so that it is easier to understand what is being said. I had all things that have been considered good through the ages. …

Commentary on Ecclesiastes ↗

Bonaventure

He expresses his curiosity with respect to the possession of stable things, namely houses for dwelling, vineyards and gardens for eating, and pools for irrigating. Therefore he says: "I made my works great," that is, I made great things: 3 Kings 10: "King Solomon was made great above all the kings of the whole earth." And he expresses individually: "I built myself houses," because he built many: whence 3 Kings 9: "After Solomon had built two houses: the house of the Lord and the house of the king," he built a house for the daughter …

Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 2 ↗