John Trapp on Ecclesiastes 2:11

Verſ. 11. Then I looked on all the works] A neceſſary and profitable practice, well worthy our imitation, viz. to recognize and review what wee have done, and to how little purpoſe wee have wearied our ſelves, in the multitude of our counſells, Eſay 47.13. God looketh upon men, and if any ſay, I have ſinned and perverted that which was right, and it profited mee not, Hee will deliver his ſoul from going into the pit, and his life ſhall ſee the light, Job 33.27, 28. Tully could tell Nevius, that if hee had but well weighed with himſelf thoſe two words, Quid ago? What do I?Orat. pro Quintio. his luſt and luxury would have been cooled and qualified.

And behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit] In the very purſute of them is much anguiſh, many grievances, fears, jealouſies, diſgraces, interruptions, diſcontentments. Next, it is ſeldome ſeen, that God allows to the greateſt darlings of the world a perfect contentment. Something they muſt have to complain of, that ſhall give an unſavoury verdure to their ſweeteſt morſels, and make their very felicity miſerable. Yet all this avails mee nothing, ſo long as I ſee Mordecai, ſaith Haman the Kings minion. Laſtly, after the unſanctified enjoyment, follows the ſting of conſcience, that will inexpreſſibly vex and torment the ſoul throughout all eternity.

And there was no profit under the ſun] Nullae emolumenta laborum, nothing but labour for travell, no contentation but deſperation, no ſatisfaction but endleſs vexation; as children tire themſelves to catch a butterflie; which when they have caught, profits them nothing, onely fouls their fingers. Or rather as the dropſical body, by ſtriving to quench thirſt by drinking, doth but increaſe the diſeaſe, and in the end deſtroy it ſelf.