What gain…? is the same question as was put in 1.3; 2.22: “What lasting benefit…?” It is advisable to use the same form as was used for the question in those cases.

The worker replaces the more general term “humankind” (or, “man”) that was used in 1.3. It means literally “the person who does things [or, who works].”

His toil: see comments on 1.3.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Zogbo, Lynell. A Handbook on the Book of Ecclesiates. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .