I have seen the travail which God hath given to the sons of men,.... The pains and trouble they are at to get a little wisdom and knowledge, Ec 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 mento be exercised in it, or "by it"; or "to afflict" or "humble [them] by it" ; 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 "Ec 1:13".
wb twnel "ad affligendum se in ea", Montanus; "ut eos adfligat in ea, sc.