Ecclesiastes 3:10

“I have seen the travail which God hath given to the sons of men, etc.] The pains and trouble they are at to get a little wisdom and knowledge, (<210113>Ecclesiastes 1:13); and so to obtain riches and honour, peace and plenty, which sometimes they do obtain, and sometimes not; and when they do, do not keep them long, for there is a time for everything. This the wise man had observed, in a variety of instances; and he considered the end of God in it, which was for men to be exercised in it, or “by it”; or “to afflict” or “humble [them] by it”f85; to let them see that all their toil and labour signified little; all depended on a divine blessing, and no happiness was to be had in the creatures;…”

“(See on Ecc 1:13).”

“Seen - I have diligently observed mens various employments, and the different successes of them. Hath given - Which God hath imposed upon men as their duty; to which therefore men ought quickly to submit. Exercised - That hereby they might have constant matter of exercise for their diligence, and patience, and submission to God's will and providence. Ecclesiastes 3:11”

“3:10 the burden God has placed on us all: God intensified the severity of our labor following humankind’s rebellion against him (Gen 3:17-19). This burden is not so great that we cannot enjoy our work and its fruits (Eccl 3:11-13).”

“Ecc 1:13, Ecc 1:14, Ecc 2:26; Gen 3:19; Th1 2:9; Th2 3:8 Ecclesiastes 3:11”

“"I saw the travail, which God gave to the children of men to fatigue themselves with it - : He hath well arranged everything beautiful in its appointed time; He hath also put eternity in their heart, so that man cannot indeed wholly search through from beginning to end the work which God accomplisheth." As at Ecc 1:14, ראיתי is here seeing in the way of research, as elsewhere, e.g., at Ecc 2:24, it is as the result of research. In Ecc 3:10 the author says that he closely considered the labour of men, and in Ecc 3:11 he states the result. It is impossible to render the word ענין everywhere by the same German (or English) word: Ecc 1:13, wearisome trouble; Ecc 2:26, business; here:…”