Ecclesiastes 3:12

“I know that [there is] no good in them, etc.] In these things; as the Arabic version; in the creatures, as Jarchi; in all sublunary enjoyments; in everything the wise man had made a trial of before, as natural Wisdom and knowledge, worldly pleasure, riches, and wealth; the “summun bonum”, or happiness of men, did not lie in these things; this he knew by experience, and had the strongest assurance of it: or in them, that is, the children of men, as the Targum: there is no real good thing in them, nor comes out of them, nor is done by them; they cannot think a good thought, nor do a good action, of themselves. Or rather the sense is, I know there is nothing better for them than what follows:…”

“in them--in God's works (Ecc 3:11), as far as relates to man's duty. Man cannot fully comprehend them, but he ought joyfully to receive ("rejoice in") God's gifts, and "do good" with them to himself and to others. This is never out of season (Gal 6:9-10). Not sensual joy and self-indulgence (Phi 4:4; Jam 4:16-17).”

“In them - i. e., in the sons of men. To do good - In a moral sense. Physical enjoyment is referred to in Ecclesiastes 3:13. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Them - In creatures or worldly enjoyments. To do good - To employ them in acts of charity and liberality. Ecclesiastes 3:13”

“3:12-13 be happy and enjoy: Though life and work can be burdensome, the Teacher’s conclusion (repeated from 2:24) can still hold true.”

“but: Ecc 3:22, Ecc 9:7-9; Deu 28:63; Psa 37:3; Isa 64:5; Luk 11:41; Act 20:35; Phi 4:4-9; Th1 5:15, Th1 5:16; Ti1 6:18 Ecclesiastes 3:13”

“"Thus I then perceived that among them (men) there is nothing better than to enjoy themselves, and indulge themselves in their life." The resignation would acquire a reality if לע טוב meant "to do good," i.e., right (lxx, Targ., Syr., Jer., Venet.); and this appears of necessity to be its meaning according to Ecc 7:20. But, with right, Ginsburg remarks that nowhere else - neither at Ecc 2:24, nor Ecc 3:22; Ecc 5:17; Ecc 8:15; Ecc 9:7 \- is this moral rendering given to the ultimatum; also טוב ור, 13a, presupposes for לע טוב a eudemonistic sense. On the other hand, Zckler is right in saying that for the meaning of עשות תוב, in the sense of "to be of good cheer" (Luth.), there is no example.…”