John Gill Commentary Ecclesiastes 3:10

"I have seen the travail which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith." — Ecclesiastes 3:10 (ASV)

I have seen the travail which God has given to the sons of men

The pains and trouble they are at to get a little wisdom and knowledge, (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, they do not keep them long, for there is a time for everything.

This the wise man has 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" ^F12.

This was 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; all was vanity and vexation of spirit; (See Gill on Ecclesiastes 1:13).

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FOOTNOTES:

• F12: (wb twnel) "ad affligendum se in ea", Montanus; "ut eos adfligat in ea, sc. per eam", Rambachius; "ut ea redderet humiles", Tigurine version.