(9.) What profit (something ‘remaining over and above the present,’ in the technical meaning of this word, see chapter [i. 3], references.) is the working (an active participle with the article, and thus generic, working then as such) in which (full relative, and thus referring to the whole idea; we must render therefore ‘in respect of its being,’ which will be emphatic, as it is followed by the pronoun) it is toil (but we must remember that the exact meaning of this word is——see Genesis xli. 51, Isaiah liii. 11——the ‘anxiety,’ or ‘care,’ the labour produces. The question then is this, Is there any profit from working in respect of its being care and pains? and the answer is, No. The LXX. render somewhat ad sensum: Τίς περίσσεια τοῦ ποιοῦντος ἐν οἷς αὐτὸς μοχθεῖ, ‘What advantage of him that works in those things which he toils?’ The Syriac,
‘What is the profit in the work in that he toils?’ but both make the meaning clear. This question is answered in the negative, the argument being elaborated with much care).
10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
I have observed with regard to the uncertainty which is appointed of God to the human race, to be made anxious thereby,