Ecclesiastes 3:9

What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

What profit hath he that worketh? But these earthly pursuits, while lawful in their season, are 'unprofitable' when made by man, what God never intended them to be, the chief good. Solomon had tried to create an artificial, forced joy, at times when he ought rather to have been serious: the result, therefore of his labour to be happy out of God's order was disappointment. "A time to plant" () refers to his planting (); "laugh" (), to Ecclesiastes 2:1; his "mirth," "laughter," "build up," "gather stones (; ), to his "building" (); "embrace," "love," to his "princesses" (note); "get" (perhaps also "gather," Ecclesiastes 3:5), to his "gathering" (). All these were of no "profit," because not in God's time and order of bestowing happiness. All our wearying labours, apart from God, are fruitless. Until His hour comes, our labour attains not its consummation. We must be unwearied in doing good (), and sowing good seed (; ), and watering the seed with our prayers.