(17.) =And I saw= (so I saw, the apodosis of the above) =with respect to all the working of Divine providence, how that is not able= (_not_ is emphatic) =humanity to the finding out of= (‘or a discovery’ of) =with regard to= (the LXX. again write σὺν) =the work= (generic) =which is done= (or suffered, or endured, as being a niphal) =under the sun, because of= (בשל occurs Jonah i. 7 only) =which toils humanity in order to seek it, and does not find it; and also if he says the wisdom= (_i.e._ wisdom generically) =to know it= (‘that wisdom is given him to know it’) =he is not able= (or rather not enabled) =to find it.= בשל in this place is no doubt used to express a new idea, ‘for this,’ or ‘which cause.’ The object of man’s toil, _i.e._ the object he has in his labour, is to find out some method by which he may rectify what appears wrong in the course of God’s providence: in the strict sense of the term this is impossible. The principle which pervades Koheleth’s reasoning is, that enjoyment, as such, is God’s gift, and that toil is useless. Labour, however, which is distinguished from toil, is to be done in the fear of God, and the result left to his providence. The argument which is to follow further enforces this. CHAPTER IX. FOR all this ¹I considered │ FOR with respect to all this, in my heart even to declare │ I have laid to my heart that all this, that the righteous, │ which is to be deduced from it and the wise, and their works, │ all, which is, that right and _are_ in the hand of God: no │ wisdom, and any service they man knoweth either love or │ can render, are in the hand of hatred _by_ all _that is_ │ the Almighty, and whether [an before them. │ event be an indication of His] │ love or displeasure either, no ¹ _Hebrew_ I gave _or_ set │ man knows from anything he sees to my heart. │ before him,