I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
I know that (there is) no good in them. Man can get no good in God's works except by rejoicing in his share of them, allotted by God, and doing good therewith. Hengstenberg explains, 'There is no good in (i:e., for [bª-]) the sons of men' (Ecclesiastes 3:10), etc. So the Hebrew particle is translated in Ecclesiastes 2:24. Joy is the antidote to worrying care (Matthew 6:34); to dare to trust joyfully in the Lord is His gift (Galatians 5:22). To "do good" is to go side by side with enjoying God's gifts, for thus a good conscience and the favour of God are retained, upon which true joy depends. Man cannot fully comprehend God's works (Ecclesiastes 3:11), but he ought joyfully to receive ("rejoice in") God's gifts, and "do good" with them to himself and to others. This is never out of season (Galatians 6:9-10). Not sensual joy and self-indulgence (Philippians 4:4; James 4:16-17).