Ecclesiaste 3:9

9 Che profitto ha chi fa alcuna cosa, di quello intorno a che egli si affatica?

Ecclesiaste 3:9 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 3:9

What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he
laboureth?
] That is, he has none. This is an inference drawn from the above premises, and confirms what has been before observed, ( Ecclesiastes 1:3 ) ( 2:11 ) ; Man has no profit of his labour, since his time is so short to enjoy it, and he leaves it to another, he knows not who; and, while he lives, is attended with continual vicissitudes and changes; sometimes it is a time for one thing, and sometimes for its contrary, so that there is nothing certain, and to be depended on; and a man can promise himself nothing in this world pleasant or profitable to him, and much less that will be of any advantage to him hereafter. The Targum adds,

``to make treasures and gather mammon, unless he is helped by Providence above;''
though it is man's duty to labour, yet all his toil and labour will be fruitless without a divine blessing; there is a time and season for everything in providence, and there is no striving against that.

Ecclesiaste 3:9 In-Context

7 tempo di stracciare, e tempo di cucire; tempo di tacere, e tempo di parlare;
8 tempo di amare, e tempo di odiare; tempo di guerra, e tempo di pace.
9 Che profitto ha chi fa alcuna cosa, di quello intorno a che egli si affatica?
10 Io ho veduta questa occupazione, che Iddio ha data a’ figliuoli degli uomini, acciocchè si occupino in essa.
11 Egli ha fatta ogni cosa bella nella sua stagione: ha eziandio posto l’eternità nel cuor degli uomini, senza che però l’uomo possa giammai rinvenir l’opere che Iddio ha fatte, da capo al fine.
The Giovanni Diodati Bible is in the public domain.