I have a question concerning Genesis 3:17-19. What exactly is God saying to Adam? I don't understand God's punishment to Adam.

Let's look at the Scripture you are referring to:

Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it': Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life.

"Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return."
(Gen. 3:17-19 NKJ)

During creation, God had given Adam complete control and oversight of the earth (Gen. 1:26). He gave Adam everything on the earth for his pleasure (Gen. 1:28-30), except for one thing, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:16-17).

Adam was told not to eat the fruit of that specific tree. When Eve and then Adam ate of this tree, they disobeyed God and gave the authority of the earth to the devil. This is why the Bible calls the devil the god of this world or age (2 Cor. 4:4).

Jesus told those who didn't believe in Him that their father was the devil (John 8:44). This is also why the devil told Jesus that he would give Him all the kingdoms of the earth (Luke 4:5-6).

Along with the devil having dominion given to him, perversion, or the curse, came. The earth began to bring forth thorns and thistles, and man had to work for a living. Jesus took the authority away from the devil after His resurrection and gave it to the church.

This same curse is still on the earth. As a result, we have to work the earth, and the animal kingdom is still cursed. These things will be broken when a new heaven and earth are created (Rev. 21:1).

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