Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes front

Introduction to Ecclesiastes

Part 1: General Introduction

Outline of the Book of Ecclesiastes

1. The author questions the nature of life and the limits of human wisdom (1:1–6:12)
2. The author teaches about making wise choices in how one lives (7:1–12:7)
3. The conclusion and ending (12:8–14)

What is the Book of Ecclesiastes about?

Ecclesiastes is a group of short teachings that try to answer questions such as “What do people gain from all their labor?” Ecclesiastes is a series of thoughts about a variety of subjects, all of them about the purpose and worth of various actions and events. The author concludes that all the work we perform and all the knowledge and skill we gain is like a vapor that disappears, and that we must fear Yahweh and keep his commandments.

How should the title of this book be translated?

The traditional title for this book is “Ecclesiastes.” Its meaning is similar to “religious assembly.” Translators might decide on a title that better describes the content of the book, such as “Words of a Teacher” or “Teachings of a Wise Man.”

Who wrote the Book of Ecclesiastes?

The author appears to be Solomon, “the Teacher, the descendant of David and king in Jerusalem.” This is consistent with what Solomon was known for: * his wisdom (Ecclesiastes 1:16 and twenty-six other references to wisdom); * his vast wealth (Ecclesiastes 2:8), and the pain that comes from wealth (Ecclesiastes 5:13-14; Ecclesiastes 4:8; and Ecclesiastes 9:11); * his large number of servants (Ecclesiastes 2:7 and Ecclesiastes 10:7); * his limitless opportunities for worldly pleasures (Ecclesiastes 2:1-2, Ecclesiastes 10; Ecclesiastes 3:13; Ecclesiastes 4:8; Ecclesiastes 5:4; and Ecclesiastes 12:1); and * the wide range of his many building projects (Ecclesiastes 2:4-6).

Solomon appears to have written the Book of Ecclesiastes near the end of his life, as he reflected on what he gained from all that he did.

Why are there so many apparent contradictions in the Book of Ecclesiastes?

Some scholars think the author was a faithful man. Other scholars think that the author made bad decisions and was sorrowful when he wrote this book. Apparent contradictions in the book may indicate that Solomon’s faith was sometimes weak. Or, it is also possible that the teachings in the book differ from each other in order to relate to different things happening in the lives of readers.

Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts

What does this book teach about how God repays people?

In the ancient Near East, people were concerned with why they were being punished or blessed. They often connected these things to their gods. The writer of Ecclesiastes explains that Yahweh will bless and reward people for the right things they do and punish people for the evil things they do. But this might not happen in this life. (See: bless, blessed, blessing, just, justice, unjust, injustice, justify, justification, god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry and righteous, righteousness, unrighteous, unrighteousness, upright, uprightness and evil, wicked, unpleasant)

What value did the Israelites place on the Book of Ecclesiastes?

The Israelites have often questioned the value of this book. This is due in large part to its unusual wording and teachings. At times, it appears to disagree with the rest of Scripture. While many have questioned its authority, it has been affirmed to be Scripture. It gives valuable lessons concerning the uselessness of pursuing any goal other than to give Yahweh glory.

Part 3: Important Translation Issues

What is the meaning of “under the sun?”

“Under the sun” here is another way of saying “on the earth.” When the author says that there is “nothing new under the sun,” this means that every kind of thing has already happened before on the earth. While a particular event may not have specifically occurred before, something similar has already occurred.

How do I translate harsh or shocking passages?

Parts of the Book of Ecclesiastes can be shocking or surprising to read in Scripture. For example, “If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but if his heart is not satisfied with good and he is not buried with honor, then I say that a baby that is born dead is better off than he is” (6:3). The translator should allow these difficulties to remain and not try to make them less surprising.

How is life described in the Book of Ecclesiastes?

The author of Ecclesiastes concludes that everything in this life quickly passes away, like a vapor that disappears. A person’s circumstances or character and even all of the things of this world have little or no significance apart from God. That is because God gives meaning to everything.

At the end of their life, people often say that the years of their life seemed short. The author of Ecclesiastes used the metaphor of vapor or breath to describe how life ends while it seems to be just beginning.

Ecclesiastes 1

Ecclesiastes 1 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the poetry in 1:2-11 and 15.

Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

Tone

The tone of this chapter is sad, or depressing. The author believes that everything in life is pointless. The metaphors in this chapter all describe the idea that nothing ever changes. This is also known as “fatalism.” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 1:2

This speaks of how everything in life vanishes and has no lasting value as if everything were like a disappearing vapor or breeze. Alternate translation: “Like a vapor of mist vanishes and like a breeze in the wind disappears, everything vanishes and has no lasting value” (See: Simile)

Ecclesiastes 1:3

The author uses this rhetorical question to emphasize that man’s work is pointless and has no lasting benefit. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “Mankind gains no profit … under the sun.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

This refers to things that are done on earth. Alternate translation: “on the earth” (See: Idiom)

Ecclesiastes 1:4

The writer is presenting the natural order of life as he understands it.

Ecclesiastes 1:5

This speaks of how the sun sets at the end of the day and is soon ready to rise again, as if it were a person that quickly ran from the place where it sets to the place from which it rises. Alternate translation: “quickly returns to the place” or “quickly goes to the place” (See: Personification)

Ecclesiastes 1:8

“Everything becomes tiring.” Since man is unable to explain these things, it becomes useless to try.

Here the “eye” represents the whole person. Alternate translation: “A person is not satisfied by what his eyes see” (See: Synecdoche)

Here the “ear” represents the whole person. Alternate translation: “nor is a person content by what his ears hear” (See: Synecdoche)

Ecclesiastes 1:9

There is nothing new regarding man and his activities.

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “whatever has happened before is what will happen again” (See: Active or Passive)

This refers to things that are done on earth. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: “on the earth” (See: Idiom)

Ecclesiastes 1:10

This rhetorical question is asked to emphasize that man cannot say there is anything new. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “There is nothing about which it may be said, ‘Look, this is new.’” (See: Rhetorical Question)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “about which someone may say” (See: Active or Passive)

Ecclesiastes 1:11

The understood subject may be supplied. Alternate translation: “the things that will happen in the future” (See: Ellipsis)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “people will not likely remember them either” (See: Active or Passive)

Ecclesiastes 1:13

Here the author refers to himself by his “mind” to emphasize his thoughts. Alternate translation: “I determined” or “I applied myself” (See: Synecdoche)

These two phrases mean the same thing and emphasize how diligently he studied. (See: Doublet)

This refers to things that are done on earth. Alternate translation: “on the earth” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Alternate translation: “human beings”

Ecclesiastes 1:14

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “everything that people do” (See: Active or Passive)

This refers to things that are done on earth. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: “on the earth” (See: Idiom)

The author uses this word to draw attention to what he says next. Alternate translation: “indeed” or “really” (See: Idiom)

These two phrases are both metaphors that emphasize the idea of things being useless and futile. (See: Parallelism)

“are only mist.” The author speaks of useless and meaningless things as if they were “vapor.” Just as vapor disappears and does not last, things have no lasting value. Alternate translation: “are as useless as vapor” or “are meaningless” (See: Metaphor)

The author says that everything that people do is as useless as if they were trying to control the wind. Alternate translation: “are as useless as trying to control the wind” (See: Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 1:15

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “People cannot straighten things that are twisted! They cannot count what is not there” (See: Active or Passive)

Ecclesiastes 1:16

Here the author refers to himself by his “heart” to emphasize his feelings. Alternate translation: “I have spoken to myself” (See: Synecdoche)

Here the author refers to himself by his “mind” to emphasize what he has learned. Alternate translation: “I have gained” or “I have learned”

Ecclesiastes 1:17

Here the author refers to himself by his “heart” to emphasize his feelings. Alternate translation: “I determined” or “I applied myself” (See: Synecdoche)

The words “madness” and “folly” share similar meanings and refer to foolish thinking and behavior, respectively. (See: Doublet)

The author says learning wisdom and madness and folly is as useless as trying to control the wind. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: “as useless as trying to control the wind” (See: Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 2

Ecclesiastes 2 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the poetry in 2:10-16.

Special concepts in this chapter

Pleasures

When the author thought about the pointlessness of life, he decided to fill it with pointless pleasures. He believed that this type of living would have no effect on the world. Therefore, he indulged in every type of pleasure.

Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

Assumed knowledge

It is assumed that the author is going to reject the way of living in this chapter. He is certainly not encouraging this way of living even though he does not say this explicitly. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ecclesiastes 2:1

Here the author refers to himself by his “heart” to emphasize his feelings. Alternate translation: “I said to myself” (See: Synecdoche)

Here the word “you” refers to himself. The word “happiness” can be expressed as an adjective. Alternate translation: “I will test myself with things that make me happy” (See: Abstract Nouns)

The word “pleasure” can be expressed as a verb. Alternate translation: “So I will enjoy things that please me” (See: Abstract Nouns)

This speaks of how happiness only lasts for a short time as if it were a temporary breeze. Alternate translation: “this also only lasted for a short time, like a temporary breeze” (See: Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 2:2

The direct quotation can be translated as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: “I said that it is crazy to laugh at things” (See: Direct and Indirect Quotations)

The author uses a rhetorical question to emphasize that pleasure is useless. Alternate translation: “It is useless.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Ecclesiastes 2:3

This speaks of thinking hard for a long time as if it were exploring. Also, the author speaks of his feelings and his thoughts as if they were his “heart.” Alternate translation: “I thought hard about” (See: Metaphor and Metonymy)

The word “desires” may be expressed as a verbal phrase. Alternate translation: “to use wine to make myself happy” (See: Abstract Nouns)

Here the author speaks of using the wisdom that he had been taught to guide himself as if this wisdom were a person who guided him. Alternate translation: “I thought about the things that wise people had taught me” (See: Personification)

This refers to things that are done on earth. Alternate translation: “on the earth” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Alternate translation: “during the time that they are alive”

Ecclesiastes 2:4

The writer probably told people to do the work. Alternate translation: “I had people build houses and plant vineyards for me” (See: Metonymy)

Ecclesiastes 2:5

The writer probably told people to do the work. Alternate translation: “I had people build for me gardens and parks; I had them plant” (See: Metonymy)

These two words share similar meanings and refer to beautiful orchards of fruit trees. (See: Doublet)

Ecclesiastes 2:6

The writer probably told people to do the work. Alternate translation: “I had them create” (See: Metonymy)

Alternate translation: “to provide water for a forest”

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “forest where trees grew” (See: Active or Passive)

Ecclesiastes 2:7

Alternate translation: “I had slaves that were born in my palace” or “My slaves bore children and they also were my slaves”

The understood verb may be supplied. Alternate translation: “much more than any other king had” (See: Ellipsis)

Ecclesiastes 2:8

This refers to the gold and other wealth that neighboring countries were forced to pay to the king of Israel. Alternate translation: “that I acquired from the treasures of kings and the rulers of provinces” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Here “provinces” represents the rulers of the provinces. Alternate translation: “the rulers of provinces” (See: Metonymy)

This means that he had many concubines that he enjoyed sleeping with, as any man enjoys sleeping with women. Alternate translation: “I greatly enjoyed many concubines, as would delight any man” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ecclesiastes 2:9

This refers to all the previous rulers of Jerusalem. Alternate translation: “than all the kings who had ruled before me in Jerusalem” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

This is an idiom. “I continued to act wisely” or “I continued to be wise” (See: Idiom)

Ecclesiastes 2:10

Here the author refers to himself by his “eyes” to emphasize what he sees. Alternate translation: “Whatever I saw and desired … from myself” (See: Synecdoche)

This can be stated positively. Alternate translation: “I got for them”

Here the author refers to himself by his “heart” to emphasize his desires. This can be stated positively and the word “pleasure” can be expressed as a verb. Alternate translation: “I did not keep myself from any pleasure” or “I allowed myself to enjoy everything that made me happy” (See: Synecdoche and Abstract Nouns)

Here the author refers to himself by his “heart” to emphasize his desires. Alternate translation: “I rejoiced” (See: Synecdoche)

Ecclesiastes 2:11

Here the author refers to himself by his “hands.” Alternate translation: “all that I had accomplished” (See: Synecdoche)

These two phrases are both metaphors that emphasize the idea of things being useless and futile. (See: Parallelism)

“mist.” The author speaks of useless and meaningless things as if they were “vapor.” See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: “as useless as vapor” or “meaningless” (See: Metaphor)

The author says that everything that people do is as useless as if they were trying to control the wind. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: “are as useless as trying to control the wind” (See: Metaphor)

Alternate translation: “But it had no profit under the sun”

This refers to things that are done on earth. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: “on the earth” (See: Idiom)

Ecclesiastes 2:12

The words “madness” and “folly” have similar meanings and refer to foolish thinking and behavior, respectively. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:17. (See: Doublet)

The author uses this rhetorical question to emphasize his point that the next king will not be able to do anything more valuable that what he had already done. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “For the next king who comes after the king can do nothing that a king before him has not already done.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Alternate translation: “the king … who succeeds the current king” or “the next king … who comes after me”

Ecclesiastes 2:13

This speaks of how wisdom is better than folly by comparing it to how light is better than darkness. (See: Simile)

Ecclesiastes 2:14

This speaks of a wise man making wise decisions as walking and paying attention to where he is going. Alternate translation: “The wise man is like a person who uses his eyes to see where he is going” (See: Metaphor)

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “pays attention and looks to see” (See: Idiom)

This compares a fool making bad decisions to someone walking in darkness. Alternate translation: “the fool is like a person who walks in the dark” (See: Metaphor)

death

Ecclesiastes 2:15

Here the author refers to himself by his “heart” to emphasize his feelings. Alternate translation: “I said to myself” (See: Synecdoche)

The author uses this rhetorical question to emphasize that there is no benefit to being wise. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “So it makes no difference if I am very wise.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Here the author refers to himself by his “heart” to emphasize his feelings. Alternate translation: “I concluded” (See: Synecdoche)

“is only mist.” The author speaks of useless and meaningless things as if they were “vapor.” See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: “is as useless as vapor” or “is meaningless” (See: Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 2:16

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “People do not remember the wise man for very long, just as they do not remember the fool for very long” (See: Active or Passive)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “people will have long forgotten everything” (See: Active or Passive)

Ecclesiastes 2:17

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “all the work that people do” (See: Active or Passive)

Alternate translation: “troubled me”

These two phrases are both metaphors that emphasize the idea of things being useless and futile. (See: Parallelism)

“mist.” The author speaks of useless and meaningless things as if they were “vapor.” See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: “as useless as vapor” or “meaningless” (See: Metaphor)

The author says everything that people do is as useless as if they were trying to control the wind. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: “as useless as trying to control the wind” (See: Metaphor)

This refers to things that are done on earth. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: “on the earth” (See: Idiom)

Ecclesiastes 2:18

Alternate translation: “to the man who inherits it after me”

Ecclesiastes 2:19

The author uses this rhetorical question to emphasize that no one knows the character the man who will inherit his wealth. Alternate translation: “For no one knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

The word “he” refers to the author’s heir.

This refers to things that are done on earth. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: “on the earth” (See: Idiom)

Here the author’s “work” and “wisdom” represent himself and the things he did in his wisdom. He probably had help with the literal buildings. Alternate translation: “that I worked very hard and wisely to build” (See: Metonymy)

The author speaks of useless and meaningless things as if they were mist. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: “as useless as vapor” or “meaningless” (See: Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 2:20

Here the author refers to himself by his “heart” to emphasize his feelings. Alternate translation: “I began to despair” or “I began to lose all hope” (See: Synecdoche)

Ecclesiastes 2:21

Alternate translation: “who works wisely and skillfully, using the things that he has learned”

Alternate translation: “who has not worked for any of it”

The author speaks of useless and meaningless things as if they were mist. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: “as useless as vapor” or “meaningless” (See: Metaphor)

Alternate translation: “a great disaster”

Ecclesiastes 2:22

The author uses a rhetorical question to emphasize that the man who works hard gains nothing. Translate “what profit does … gain” as you did in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: “For the person who works so hard and tries in his heart to complete his labors under the sun gains nothing.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

These two phrases mean basically the same thing and emphasize how strenuously the person works. (See: Parallelism)

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “tries anxiously” (See: Idiom)

This refers to things that are done on earth. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: “on the earth” (See: Idiom)

Ecclesiastes 2:23

These two words mean basically the same thing and emphasize how difficult the person’s work is. (See: Doublet)

Here man’s mind is referred to as his “soul” to emphasize his deep thoughts. Alternate translation: “his mind does not rest” or “he continues to worry” (See: Idiom and Metonymy)

Ecclesiastes 2:24

Here God is represented by his “hand” to emphasize how he provides for people. Alternate translation: “from God” (See: Metonymy)

Ecclesiastes 2:25

The author uses this rhetorical question to emphasize that no pleasure can be had without God’s provision. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “For no one can eat or have any kind of pleasure apart from God.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Ecclesiastes 2:26

Possible meanings for the word he are: (1) God or (2) the sinner. This also can be translated without making it clear who it is that gives the things that the sinner stored. Alternate translation: “so that the one who pleases God may have it”

These two phrases are both metaphors that emphasize the idea of things being useless and futile. (See: Parallelism)

“mist.” The author speaks of useless and meaningless things as if they were “vapor.” See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: “as useless as vapor” or “meaningless” (See: Metaphor)

The author speaks of everything that people do as being useless as if they were trying to control the wind. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: “are as useless as trying to control the wind” (See: Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 3

Ecclesiastes 3 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the poetry in 3:1-8 and 3:15.

Important figures of speech in this chapter

Parallelism

The chapter uses parallelism with the phrase, “a time to.” This gives the quotation a poetic style. Their overall purpose is to show that Yahweh directs the events of the world and therefore, they have purpose.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

The writer uses merisms to describe various aspects of life from one extreme to the other. (See: Merism)

These two phrases mean basically the same thing and are combined for emphasis. (See: Parallelism)

This refers to things that are done on earth. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: “on the earth” (See: Idiom)

Ecclesiastes 3:2

This could mean: (1) “a time to harvest” or (2) “a time to uproot.”

Ecclesiastes 3:5

to hold someone in your arms to show love or friendship

Ecclesiastes 3:8

The writer concludes using merisms to describe various aspects of life from one extreme to the other. (See: Merism)

Ecclesiastes 3:9

This is a thought provoking question to focus the reader on the next discussion topic. Translate “what profit does … gain” as you did in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: “The worker gains no profit for his labor.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Ecclesiastes 3:11

“God has fixed a time that is right for everything to happen” or “God has set a time that is right for each thing to happen:

Here the word “their” refers to human beings. Here the “hearts” of the people represent their thoughts and desires. Alternate translation: “placed eternity in the hearts of human beings” or “caused people to think about eternal things” (See: Metonymy)

This refers to the beginning and the end and all that is in between. (See: Merism)

Ecclesiastes 3:13

Alternate translation: “should learn how to enjoy” or “should enjoy”

Ecclesiastes 3:14

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “No one can add anything to or take anything away from it” (See: Active or Passive)

Ecclesiastes 3:16

These two phrases mean the same thing and emphasize how common wicked behavior is. (See: Parallelism)

Alternate translation: “where there should be righteousness”

This refers to things that are done on earth. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: “on the earth” (See: Idiom)

Ecclesiastes 3:17

Here the author refers to himself by his “heart” to emphasize his feelings. Alternate translation: “I said to myself” (See: Synecdoche)

This refers to righteous and wicked people. Alternate translation: “those who are righteous and those who are wicked” or “the righteous people and the wicked people” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

These two phrases mean basically the same thing and refer to every action that people do. (See: Doublet)

Ecclesiastes 3:18

Here the author refers to himself by his “heart” to emphasize his feelings. Alternate translation: “I said to myself” (See: Synecdoche)

Here the author says that human beings are like animals. In the next verse the author explains clearly how humans are like animals. (See: Simile)

Ecclesiastes 3:19

Alternate translation: “is the same for both of them” or “is the same”

Alternate translation: “All of them breathe same”

Alternate translation: “Mankind is no better off than the animals”

Here the author speaks of everything being as temporary as if it were a breath of air. The author uses this rhetorical question to emphasize that everything is temporary. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “Everything is just a breath.” or “Everything is as temporary as a breath.” (See: Metaphor and Rhetorical Question)

Ecclesiastes 3:20

This means that all people and all animals die and decay and become part of the soil. Alternate translation: “Everything dies and goes to the same place” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

soil

Ecclesiastes 3:21

The author asks this rhetorical question to emphasize that no one truly knows what happens after people and animals die. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “No one knows whether the spirit … into the earth.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Ecclesiastes 3:22

See how you translated this phrase in Ecclesiastes 3:12.

The author uses this rhetorical question to emphasize that no one will see what happens after he dies. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “No one of us knows what happens to us after we die.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Ecclesiastes 4

Ecclesiastes 4 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the poetry in 4:1-3, 4:5-6, and 4:8-12.

Important figures of speech in this chapter

Irony

The teacher looks at the oppression in the world and is saddened by it, but he is the king and has the power to change things. He also laments being alone even though he has many wives, children, and concubines. (See: oppress, oppressed, oppression, oppressor, dominate and lament, lamentation and Irony)

Ecclesiastes 4:1

This refers to things that are done on earth. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: “on the earth” (See: Idiom)

Alternate translation: “I looked and I saw”

Here “tears” represent weeping. Alternate translation: “the oppressed people were weeping” (See: Metonymy)

This means that their oppressors were powerful. Here their “hand” represents what thet possess. Alternate translation: “Their oppressors were powerful” (See: Metonymy)

Ecclesiastes 4:2

The word “living” is a nominal adjective that refers to people who are living. The phrase “those who are still alive” means the same thing as “the living.” Alternate translation: “the people who are still alive” (See: Parallelism and Nominal Adjectives)

Ecclesiastes 4:3

Alternate translation: “the one who has not yet been born is better off than both of them”

This refers to those who are dead and to those who are alive. Alternate translation: “both those who are dead and those who are living” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

This refers to things that are done on earth. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: “on the earth” (See: Idiom)

Ecclesiastes 4:4

The word “envy” may be expressed as an adjective. Alternate translation: “made one’s neighbor envious” (See: Abstract Nouns)

This could mean: (1) The neighbor envies the object his neighbor made, or (2) the neighbor envies the skills his neighbor has.

These two phrases are both metaphors that emphasize the idea of things being useless and futile. (See: Parallelism)

“mist.” The author speaks of things as being useless and meaningless as if they were vapor. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: “as useless as vapor” or “meaningless” (See: Metaphor)

The author speaks of everything that people do as being useless as if they were trying to control the wind. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: “are as useless as trying to control the wind” (See: Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 4:5

To fold the hands is a gesture of laziness and is another way of saying that the person refuses to work. Alternate translation: “The fool refuses to work” (See: Symbolic Action and Parallelism)

This speaks of a person destroying himself as if he were eating his own body. Alternate translation: “as a result, he causes his own ruin” or “and as a result, he destroys himself” (See: Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 4:6

Alternate translation: “a small amount”

“a large amount.” It is understood that this refer to profit gained. Alternate translation: “two handfuls of profit” or “a large amount of profit” (See: Ellipsis)

The author speaks of everything that people do as being useless as if they were trying to control the wind. See how you translated a similar phrase in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: “that is as useless as trying to control the wind” (See: Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 4:7

being useless, without profit

“more vanishing mist.” The author speaks of things as being useless and meaningless as if they were vapor. See how you translated “vapor” in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: “more things that are as useless as vapor” or “more meaningless things” (See: Metaphor)

This refers to things that are done on earth. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: “on the earth” (See: Idiom)

“mist.” The author speaks of things as being useless and meaningless as if they were vapor. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: “as useless as vapor” or “meaningless” (See: Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 4:8

This person has no family. Alternate translation: “he has no family” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Here the whole person is represented by his “eyes” to emphasize his desires. Alternate translation: “he is not satisfied” (See: Synecdoche)

Alternate translation: “Will anyone benefit from me working hard and not enjoying myself”

Ecclesiastes 4:10

Here sorrow is spoken of as if it were a person that could follow someone else. Alternate translation: “the one who is alone when he falls is sorrowful” (See: Personification)

Ecclesiastes 4:11

The writer speaks of two people keeping each other warm on a cold night. Alternate translation: “If two people lie down together at night, they can be warm” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

This refers to a person lying down. The author use this rhetorical question to emphasize that two people can keep each other warm but one person cannot. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “a person cannot be warm when he is alone.” or “a person who lies down alone cannot be warm.” (See: Rhetorical Question and Ellipsis)

Ecclesiastes 4:12

This can be written in active form. Alternate translation: “Someone can overpower a person who is alone” (See: Active or Passive)

Alternate translation: “but two people”

Alternate translation: “defend themselves against an attack”

This speaks of three people together being stronger as if they were a three-strand rope. Alternate translation: “three people are even stronger, like a three-strand rope that” (See: Metaphor)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “people cannot easily break a rope made with three strands” (See: Active or Passive)

Ecclesiastes 4:13

Alternate translation: “wise young man”

Here knowing represents willingness. Alternate translation: “who is no longer willing” (See: Metonymy)

Ecclesiastes 4:14

Alternate translation: “after being in prison”

This means that he had poor parents. Alternate translation: “he was born to poor parents who lived in the land that he will someday rule” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ecclesiastes 4:15

Instead of choosing the wise youth, the people choose the king’s son, who may not be any wiser.

The words “alive” and “walking around” mean basically the same thing and are combined to emphasize living people. (See: Parallelism)

This refers to things that are done on earth. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: “on the earth” (See: Idiom)

Ecclesiastes 4:16

This is an exaggeration used to emphasize a large number of people. Alternate translation: “There are very many people” (See: Hyperbole)

These two phrases are both metaphors that emphasize the idea of things being useless and futile. (See: Parallelism)

“mist.” The author speaks of things as being useless and meaningless as if they were vapor. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: “as useless as vapor” or “meaningless” (See: Metaphor)

The author speaks of everything that people do as being useless as if they were trying to control the wind. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: “are as useless as trying to control the wind” (See: Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 5

Ecclesiastes 5 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the poetry in 5:2-3, and 5:10-17.

Special concepts in this chapter

Materialism

The author describes the pointlessness of pursuing material things. This is known as “materialism.” Those who pursue after things will always want more. At the end of their life, they will not be able to use these things.

Ecclesiastes 5:1

Here “steps” are a metonym for a person’s conduct. Alternate translation: “Be careful how you conduct yourself” (See: Metonymy)

Ecclesiastes 5:2

These two phrases mean the same thing and emphasize that you should think first before you speak to God about a matter. (See: Parallelism)

Here the phrase “with your mouth” emphasizes and describes a person speaking. Alternate translation: “to speak”

Here a person is represented by his “heart” to emphasize his emotions and desires. Alternate translation: “do not” (See: Synecdoche)

Alternate translation: “do not say too much”

Ecclesiastes 5:4

It is implied that it is foolish to delay in fulfilling a vow that you have made to God. Alternate translation: “do not foolishly delay in doing it, because God is not pleased with foolish people” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ecclesiastes 5:6

Here a person’s “mouth” represents a person’s speech, and the person himself is represented by his “flesh.” Alternate translation: “Do not let what you say cause you to sin” (See: Metonymy and Synecdoche)

The author uses this rhetorical question to emphasize that it is foolish to make a vow that you will not keep. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “It would be foolish to make God angry by vowing falsely, provoking God to destroy the work of your hands.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Here a person is represented by his “hands.” Alternate translation: “destroy everything you do” (See: Synecdoche)

Ecclesiastes 5:7

The author speaks of things as being useless and futile as if they were vapor. See how you translated “vapor” in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: “For many dreams and many words are as useless as vapor” (See: Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 5:8

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “people oppressing the poor and robbing them” (See: Active or Passive)

This refers to poor people. Alternate translation: “those who are poor” or “poor people” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

The words “just” and “right” mean basically the same thing and refer to the kind of treatment that people deserve. Alternate translation: “fair treatment” (See: Doublet)

“do not be surprised, for there are people

Alternate translation: “there are people with authority”

There are other men who rule over the men in authority. Alternate translation: “men who have even more authority than they do” (See: Idiom)

Ecclesiastes 5:9

The word “produce” may be expressed as a verb. Alternate translation: “the food that the land produces … crops from the fields” (See: Abstract Nouns)

Ecclesiastes 5:10

The author speaks of useless and meaningless things as if they were mist. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: “as useless as vapor” or “meaningless” (See: Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 5:11

The word “prosperity” may be expressed as an adjective. Alternate translation: “As a person becomes more prosperous” (See: Abstract Nouns)

This could mean: (1) “so also the person spends more money” or (2) “so also there will be more people who use his wealth.”

This speaks of people spending wealth as if they were “eating” it. Alternate translation: “who use it” (See: Metaphor)

The author uses this rhetorical question to emphasize that the wealthy do not benefit from their wealth. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “The only benefit that the owner has from wealth is that he can look at it” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Ecclesiastes 5:12

This speaks of a person’s sleep being fulfilling and peaceful as if it were sweet like something he eats. Alternate translation: “The sleep of a working man is peaceful” (See: Metaphor)

Alternate translation: “whether he eats a little bit of food or a lot of food”

“but the wealth of a rich person keeps him awake at night.” This speaks of a rich person not being able to sleep because he is worried about his money as if his money were a person that would not allow him to sleep. Alternate translation: “but rich people do not sleep well because they worry about their money” (See: Personification)

Ecclesiastes 5:13

This refers to things that are done on earth. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: “on the earth” (See: Idiom)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “an owner hoards riches” (See: Active or Passive)

Ecclesiastes 5:14

This could mean: (1) “through misfortune” or (2) “through a bad business deal.”

Here the phrase “in his hands” represents ownership. If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “he leaves no possession for his own son” (See:Metonymy and Active or Passive)

Ecclesiastes 5:15

It is implied that a man is naked when he is born. In addition to being without clothing, here the word “naked” emphasizes that people are born without any possessions. Alternate translation: “As a man is naked and owns nothing when he is born … he will leave this life the same way” (See: Metaphor)

Alternate translation: “is born”

This refers to dying. Alternate translation: “he will die” (See: Euphemism)

Here a man’s possessions are spoken of as if they are fruit that he grew with his labor. Alternate translation: “He can not take any of his possessions with him” (See: Metonymy)

Ecclesiastes 5:16

This refers to the birth and death of a person and expresses the same idea as the previous verse. This refers to women as well as men. Alternate translation: “as people bring nothing into the world when they are born, so they take nothing with them when they die and leave this world” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and When Masculine Words Include Women)

The writer uses this rhetorical question to emphasize that there is no benefit in working for the wind. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “No one gets any profit in working for the wind.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

This could mean: (1) This speaks of the person receiving no lasting profit as if he were trying to control the wind. Alternate translation: “tries to shepherd the wind” or “work that is as useless as trying to shepherd the wind” or (2) This implies that the person only receives the air that he breaths as his profit. Alternate translation: “works to receive the air he breathes” (See: Metaphor and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ecclesiastes 5:17

This speaks of a person mourning throughout his life as if he always ate in darkness. Here “darkness” represents sadness and mourning. Alternate translation: “He spends his life in mourning and sadness” (See: Metaphor)

Here a person’s “days” represent his life. Alternate translation: “his life” (See: Metonymy)

The words “sickness” and “anger” can be expressed as adjectives. Alternate translation: “suffers greatly, being sick and angry” (See: Abstract Nouns)

Ecclesiastes 5:18

The author uses this word here to draw his reader’s attention to what he says next. Alternate translation: “Pay attention” or “Listen” (See: Idiom)

Here the words “good” and “suitable” mean basically the same thing. The second intensifies the meaning of the first. Alternate translation: “what I have seen to be the best thing to do” (See: Doublet)

This refers to things that are done on earth. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: “on the earth” (See: Idiom)

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “as long as God allows us to live” (See: Idiom)

This could mean: (1) “For this is man’s reward” or (2) “For these are the things that he allows man to do”

Ecclesiastes 5:19

These two words mean basically the same thing. They refer to money and the things that a person can buy with money. (See: Doublet)

Alternate translation: “to accept what he is given”

Ecclesiastes 5:20

Here the word “he” refers to the person to whom God has given a gift. The phrase “call to mind” is an idiom. Alternate translation: “he does not remember” or “he does not think about” (See: Idiom)

This refers to the things that happened during his lifetime. This can be stated clearly. Alternate translation: “the things that have happened during his lifetime” (See: Idiom)

Alternate translation: “stay busy”

Ecclesiastes 6

Ecclesiastes 6 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the poetry in 6:7-11.

Special concepts in this chapter

Satisfaction

While a person may be given a great many things, they are worthless and provide no sense of satisfaction or peace. It is assumed that only Yahweh can provide these things to man. Solomon is depressed that he had everything he could have ever wanted in life, but they were not enough to give him satisfaction or peace. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ecclesiastes 6:1

Here evil is spoken of as something that is a heavy load to carry. Alternate translation: “it causes hardship for people” (See: Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 6:2

These two words mean basically the same thing. They refer to money and the things that a person can buy with money. (See: Doublet)

This is a double negative. Alternate translation: “he has everything” (See: Double Negatives)

Alternate translation: “does not give him the ability”

The author speaks of useless and meaningless things as if they were mist. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: “as useless as vapor” or “meaningless” (See: Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 6:3

“fathers 100 children.” This is a hypothetical situation. This is also an exaggeration and is applicable to people with fewer than 100 children. Alternate translation: “fathers many children” (See: Numbers and Hypothetical Situations and Hyperbole)

These two phrases mean basically the same thing and are combined for emphasis. Alternate translation: “lives many years” (See: Parallelism)

This refers to a man by his “heart” to emphasize his feelings. Alternate translation: “he is not content with good things” (See: Synecdoche)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. This could mean: (1) “no one buries him at all” or (2) he receives no honor, “no one buries him properly.” (See: Active or Passive or Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ecclesiastes 6:4

Alternate translation: “such a baby is born for nothing”

This speaks of the death of the baby being as unexplainable as “darkness.” Alternate translation: “dies unexplainably” (See: Idiom)

This speaks of no one knowing the baby’s name as if it were a hidden object. Alternate translation: “no one knows its name” (See: Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 6:6

This is a hypothetical situation. This is also an exaggeration to show that it does not matter how long a person lives if he does not enjoy the good things in life. (See: Hypothetical Situations and Hyperbole)

“2,000 years” (See: Numbers)

This means that he dies like all other people. Alternate translation: “he dies and go to the same place as everyone else” or “he goes to the grave just like everyone else” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ecclesiastes 6:7

Here putting food in a man’s mouth represents feeding him. Alternate translation: “is to put food in his mouth” or “is to feed him” (See: Metonymy)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “he does not satisfy his appetite” (See: Active or Passive)

Ecclesiastes 6:8

The author uses this rhetorical question to emphasize that a wise person does not have any more lasting benefits than a fool. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “it seems the wise person has no advantage over the fool.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

The author uses this rhetorical question to emphasize that a poor man does not have any more lasting benefits than someone else. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “The poor man has no advantage even if he knows how to act in front of other people.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Alternate translation: “how to conduct himself”

Ecclesiastes 6:9

A person can see these things because he already has them. Alternate translation: “what a person has” (See: Metonymy)

This refers to things that a person wants but does not have. Alternate translation: “to want what he does not have” (See: Metonymy)

These two phrases are both metaphors that emphasize the idea of things being useless and futile. (See: Parallelism)

“mist.” The author speaks of things as being useless and meaningless as if they were vapor. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: “as useless as vapor” or “meaningless” (See: Metaphor)

The author speaks of everything that people do as being useless as if they were trying to control the wind. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: “are as useless as trying to control the wind” (See: Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 6:10

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “People have already named everything that exists” (See: Active or Passive)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “people already know what mankind is like” (See: Active or Passive)

Alternate translation: “God, who is the mighty judge”

Ecclesiastes 6:11

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “The more words that people speak” (See: Active or Passive)

The more a person speaks, the more likely he will speak about meaningless things. Alternate translation: “the more meaningless those words are”

being useless, without profit

The author uses this rhetorical question to emphasize that there is no advantage for a man to talk a lot. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “that is no advantage to a man.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Ecclesiastes 6:12

The author uses this rhetorical question to emphasize that no person truly knows what is good for man. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “No one knows what is good for man … he passes like a shadow.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

This speaks of how life passes quickly by saying that it is like a shadow that quickly disappears. The phrase “numbered days” emphasizes that a person’s life is short. Alternate translation: “during his futile, short life, which he passes through as quickly as a shadow passes by” (See: Simile)

The author uses this rhetorical question to emphasize that no one knows what will happen after a person dies. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “No one can tell a man … after he passes.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

This refers to things that are done on earth. See how you translated “under the sun” in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: “what will happen on the earth” (See: Idiom)

This is a polite expression for death. Alternate translation: “after he dies” (See: Euphemism)

Ecclesiastes 7

Ecclesiastes 7 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the poetry in 7:1-26.

Special concepts in this chapter

Advice

This chapter gives a series of disconnected pieces of advice. Translators should not try to smooth the transitions between these pieces of advice. The advice in these statements do not apply in every situation. Therefore, they should be seen as “good ideas.”

Ecclesiastes 7:1

Here a person’s “name” is used to represent their reputation. Alternate translation: “A good reputation” (See: Metonymy)

Ecclesiastes 7:2

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “must think seriously about this” (See: Idiom)

Ecclesiastes 7:3

This refers to being sad. Alternate translation: “an experience that makes a person sad” (See: Idiom)

Here, the word heart refers to a person’s thoughts and emotions. Gladness describes either: (1) the state of the emotions of being happy and peaceful or (2) the ability to understand the truth. Alternate translation: “right thinking” (See: Metonymy)

Ecclesiastes 7:4

Here wise people are referred to by their “hearts.” This speaks of the wise person mourning as being in a house of mourning. Alternate translation: “Wise people think deeply about death” (See: Synecdoche and Metaphor)

Here foolish people are referred to by their “hearts.” This speaks of foolish people thinking only about what makes them happy as being in a house of feasting. Alternate translation: “but foolish people think only about enjoying themselves” (See: Synecdoche and Metaphor)

These phrases refer to what happens in these places.

Ecclesiastes 7:5

The word “rebuke” can be expressed as a verb. Alternate translation: “when wise people rebuke you” (See: Abstract Nouns)

Alternate translation: “to listen to fools sing”

Ecclesiastes 7:6

This speaks of how listening to fools talk and laugh will teach you nothing, as if their speech and laughter were the sound of burning thorns. Alternate translation: “For listening to the laughter of fools will not teach a man any more than if he were listening to the crackling of thorns burning under a pot” (See: Simile)

The author speaks of useless and meaningless things as if they were mist. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: “as useless as vapor” or “meaningless” (See: Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 7:7

This refers to forcing someone to give money or other valuable items to another so that the other person does not harm him. It is considered wrong.

This could mean: (1) “turns the wise man into a foolish man” or (2) “makes the advice of the wise man appear to be foolish advice.”

Here the word “heart” refers to the mind. Alternate translation: “ruins a person’s ability to think and judge rightly” (See: Metonymy)

Ecclesiastes 7:8

Here the word “spirit” refers to a person’s attitude. Alternate translation: “patient people are better than proud people” or “a patient attitude is better than a prideful attitude” (See: Metonymy)

Ecclesiastes 7:9

Here the word “spirit” refers to a person’s attitude. Alternate translation: “Do not become angry quickly” or “Do not have a bad temper” (See: Metonymy)

This speaks of a person being full of anger as if the anger lived inside him. This speaks of the anger being in the person’s heart because the “heart” is thought to be the source of a person’s emotions. Alternate translation: “foolish people are full of anger” (See: Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 7:10

The person asks this rhetorical question in order to complain about the present time. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “Things were better in the past than they are now.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Here the author uses irony to rebuke the person’s question. Alternate translation: “if you were wise you would not ask this question” (See: Irony)

Ecclesiastes 7:11

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “those who are alive” (See: Idiom)

Ecclesiastes 7:12

This could mean: (1) that the writer uses the words “knowledge” and “wisdom” to mean the same thing, or (2) “the advantage of knowing wisdom is that it gives life.”

This speaks of how wisdom helps to preserve a person’s life as if it gave life to that person. When a person is wise he makes good decisions that help him to live a more prosperous and longer life. Alternate translation: “preserves a person’s life” or “helps a person to make good decisions and to live a longer life” (See: Personification)

Ecclesiastes 7:13

The author uses this rhetorical question to emphasize that no one can change something that God has done. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “No one can straighten out anything he has made crooked.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Ecclesiastes 7:14

The word “times” is an idiom for “things happening.” Alternate translation: “When good things happen … when bad things happen” (See: Idiom)

Alternate translation: “be happy about those good things”

The phrase “side by side” is an idiom that means “this one” and “this one.” Alternate translation: “both to exist” or “there to be both good and bad” (See: Idiom)

This could mean: (1) “anything that happens in the future” or (2) “anything that happens to him after he dies.”

Ecclesiastes 7:15

Alternate translation: “in my meaningless life”

Alternate translation: “even though they are righteous”

Alternate translation: “even though they are evil”

Ecclesiastes 7:16

These two phrases mean basically the same thing and are combined for emphasis. (See: Parallelism)

Alternate translation: “Do not think that you are more righteous than you actually are”

The eyes represent seeing, and seeing represents thoughts or judgment. Alternate translation: “being wise in your own opinion” or “being wise according to your own judgement” (See: Metaphor)

The writer uses this rhetorical question to emphasize that being self-righteous destroys a person. Alternate translation: “There is no reason to destroy yourself.” or “If you think this way you will destroy yourself.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Ecclesiastes 7:17

The author uses this rhetorical question to emphasize that there is no reason for people to do things that will cause them to die early. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “There is no reason for you to die sooner than you should.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Ecclesiastes 7:18

This speaks of striving to be wise as if “wisdom” were an object that a person could hold on to. Alternate translation: “commit yourself to this wisdom” (See: Metaphor)

This speaks of striving to be righteous as if “righteousness” were an object that a person could hold on to. Alternate translation: “you should not stop trying to be righteous” or “you should keep trying to be righteous” (See: Metaphor)

Alternate translation: “will do everything that God expects of him”

Ecclesiastes 7:19

Alternate translation: “Wisdom makes a man powerful; it makes him more powerful than ten rulers in a city”

Ecclesiastes 7:20

Alternate translation: “does good things and does not sin”

Ecclesiastes 7:21

This can be written in active form. Alternate translation: “everything that people say” (See: Active or Passive)

Ecclesiastes 7:22

“you yourself know.” Here “yourself” is used to emphasize the phrase “you know.” (See: Reflexive Pronouns)

Here a person’s thoughts are represented by their “heart.” Alternate translation: “in your own thoughts” (See: Metonymy)

Ecclesiastes 7:23

here the word “this” refers to all of the things the author has written about. Alternate translation: “All this that I have already written about have I proven” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Alternate translation: “it was beyond my ability to understand” or “but I was not able to do it”

Ecclesiastes 7:24

This speaks of wisdom being difficult to understand as if it were something located far away or in a very deep place. Alternate translation: “difficult to understand” (See: Idiom)

The writer uses this rhetorical question to emphasize the difficulty in understanding wisdom. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “No one can understand it.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Ecclesiastes 7:25

Here the word “heart” refers to the mind. Also, here the word “turned” is an idiom. Alternate translation: “I directed my thoughts” or “I determined” (See: Metonymy and Idiom)

“the reason for things.” This word “explanations” can be expressed as a verb. Alternate translation: “how to explain various things in life” (See: Abstract Nouns)

Ecclesiastes 7:26

The writer says that the seductive woman is like traps that hunters use to catch animals. The author speaks of a woman being seductive as if she traps men like a hunter traps animals. Her “heart” represents her thoughts and emotions. Alternate translation: “any woman who traps men by seducing them” (See: Metaphor and Metonymy)

These two words both refer to ways in which people trap animals to emphasize how the woman traps men. (See: Doublet)

Here the word “hands” refers to her power and control. This speaks of her being seductive as if hands were chains that she bound people with. Alternate translation: “from whom no one can escape” (See: Metaphor and Metonymy)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “she will capture the sinner” (See: Active or Passive)

Ecclesiastes 7:27

The word “discovery” can be expressed as a verb. The word “adding” here is used as an idiom. Alternate translation: “discovering one thing after another” (See: Abstract Nouns and Idiom)

This word “explanation” can be expressed as a verb. See how the phrase “explanations of reality” is translated in Ecclesiastes 7:25. Alternate translation: “in order to be able to explain things in life” (See: Abstract Nouns)

Ecclesiastes 7:28

“1 righteous man among 1,000.” Only one righteous man was found in a group of 1,000 people. (See: Numbers)

There were no righteous women found in a group of 1,000 people.

Ecclesiastes 7:29

This could mean: (1) “they have made many sinful plans” or (2) “they have made their own lives difficult.”

Here the word “they” refers to “humanity.” This speaks of humanity changing from being upright to not being upright as if they were going from one place to another. (See: Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 8

Ecclesiastes 8 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the poetry in 8:1 and 8:5-8.

Special concepts in this chapter

Wisdom

Solomon, known for his wisdom, gives a detailed description of wisdom. True wisdom is seeking to honor God. This is the only thing that lasts. (See: wise, wisdom)

Ecclesiastes 8:1

The writer asks these as leading questions to provide the answer in what he says next.

This means that the person’s face will show that he has wisdom. Alternate translation: “shows on his face” (See: Idiom)

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “his harsh appearance” (See: Idiom)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “changes” (See: Active or Passive)

Ecclesiastes 8:2

Alternate translation: “the oath you made before God to protect him”

Ecclesiastes 8:3

This could mean: (1) not to be hasty to physically leave the king’s presence or (2) This is a metaphor that speaks of being loyal to the king as being in his presence. Alternate translation: “Do not abandon the king” (See: Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 8:4

Alternate translation: “What the king says is the law”

This rhetorical question emphasizes that no one will ask the king the following question. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “no one can say to him” (See: Rhetorical Question)

This rhetorical question is a rebuke. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “You should not be doing what you are doing.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Ecclesiastes 8:5

Here a man is represented by his “heart” to emphasize his thoughts. Alternate translation: “A wise man recognizes” (See: Synecdoche)

Alternate translation: “the correct time to do things and the right way to do them”

Ecclesiastes 8:7

This rhetorical question emphasizes that no one knows what will happen in the future. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “No one can tell him what is coming.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Ecclesiastes 8:8

Just as no one has the ability to stop himself from breathing, no one can continue living when it is time to die. (See: Simile)

The word “ruler” can be expressed as a verb. Alternate translation: “No one has control”

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “when he will die” (See: Idiom)

This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: “No army discharges anyone” or “No army allows soldiers to leave” (See: Active or Passive)

This speaks of wickedness as if it were a master who had slaves. Alternate translation: “evil people will not be saved by doing what is evil” (See: Personification)

Ecclesiastes 8:9

Here the author refers to himself by his “heart” to emphasize his feelings. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:17. Alternate translation: “I applied myself” (See: Synecdoche)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “every kind of work that people do” (See: Active or Passive)

This refers to things that are done on earth. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: “on the earth” (See: Idiom)

Alternate translation: “Sometimes one person will oppress another, causing that person to be hurt”

Ecclesiastes 8:10

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Evil people that died were given honorable burials. Alternate translation: “people bury the wicked publicly” (See: Active or Passive)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “People took them from the holy area and buried them and praised them” (See: Active or Passive)

Ecclesiastes 8:11

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “When people in authority do not quickly execute a sentence against an evil crime” (See: Active or Passive)

Here people are represented by their “hearts” to emphasize their will and desires. Alternate translation: “entices human beings” (See: Synecdoche)

Ecclesiastes 8:12

“100 times” (See: Numbers)

The phrase “it will be better” is an idiom. Alternate translation: “life will be better for those who respect God” (See: Idiom)

These two phrases mean basically the same thing and are combined to emphasize people respecting God. (See: Parallelism)

Ecclesiastes 8:13

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “God will not prolong his life” (See: Active or Passive)

This speaks of how the wicked man’s life passes quickly by saying that it is like a shadow that quickly disappears. Alternate translation: “His days will pass as quickly as a shadow disappears” (See: Simile)

Alternate translation: “His life is”

Ecclesiastes 8:14

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “something else that people do on the earth” (See: Active or Passive)

“this also is useless mist.” The author speaks of things as being useless and meaningless as if they were ‘vapor.’ See how you translated the word “vapor” in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: “this also is as useless as vapor” or “this also is meaningless” (See: Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 8:15

This refers to things that are done on earth. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: “on the earth” (See: Idiom)

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “for as long as God allows him to live” (See: Idiom)

Ecclesiastes 8:16

Here the author refers to himself by his “heart” to emphasize his feelings. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:17. Alternate translation: “I applied myself” (See: Synecdoche)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “the work that people do on the earth” (See: Active or Passive)

Here a person is represented by his “eyes.” Alternate translation: “without sleeping” (See: Synecdoche)

Ecclesiastes 8:17

This could mean: (1) “the work that God does under the sun” or (2) “the work that God allows people to do under the sun.” (See: Active or Passive)

This refers to things that are done on earth. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: “on the earth” (See: Idiom)

Ecclesiastes 9

Ecclesiastes 9 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the poetry in 9:2, 5-6, and 11-12.

Special concepts in this chapter

Judgment

This chapter explains that there is one thing that awaits all people: judgment. When people die, they will all face Yahweh’s judgment. (See: judge, judgment)

Ecclesiastes 9:1

Alternate translation: “I thought very deeply about all this”

Here the word “they” refers to “the righteous and wise people” as well as “their deeds.”

Here the word “hands” refers to power and authority. Alternate translation: “under God’s control” (See: Metonymy)

This speaks of “love” and “hate” as if they are people that may come to visit someone else. Alternate translation: “whether someone will experience love or hate” (See: Personification)

Ecclesiastes 9:2

This refers to all people, emphasizing the two opposites of righteous and wicked people. (See: Merism)

All of these phrases refer to people. Alternate translation: “wicked people … good people … clean people and unclean people” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

This refers to all people, emphasizing the two opposites of clean and unclean people. (See: Merism)

A person who is acceptable for God’s purposes is spoken of as if the person were physically clean. (See: Metaphor)

A person who is not acceptable for God’s purposes is spoken of as if the person were physically unclean. (See: Metaphor)

This refers to all people, emphasizing the two opposites of those who sacrifice and those who do not. (See: Merism)

This refers to all people, emphasizing the two opposites of good people and sinners. (See: Merism)

It is understood that this refers to people dying. Alternate translation: “the sinner will die … the man who fears to make an oath will die” (See: Ellipsis)

This refers to all people, emphasizing the two opposites of those who swear oaths and those who do not.(See: Merism)

Ecclesiastes 9:3

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “everything that happens” (See: Active or Passive)

This refers to things that are done on earth. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: “on the earth” (See: Idiom)

death

Here the word “hearts” refers to the thoughts and emotions. Alternate translation: “Human beings are full of evil, and their thoughts are of madness” (See: Metonymy)

Alternate translation: “folly”

The phrase “the dead” refers to dead people. Here dead people represent the place where people go after they die. Alternate translation: “they go to the place where dead people are” or “they die and go to the grave” (See: Nominal Adjectives and Metonymy)

Ecclesiastes 9:4

This refers to people who are alive. Alternate translation: “who are alive” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

A “dog” was considered a lowly animal while a lion was considered a noble animal. This speaks of it being better to be lowly and alive than to be considered noble and dead. Alternate translation: “It is better to be lowly like a dog and to be alive than to be noble like a lion and to be dead” (See: Simile)

Ecclesiastes 9:5

This refers to people who are dead. Alternate translation: “those who are dead” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “people will forget them” (See: Active or Passive)

Ecclesiastes 9:6

This refers to the love, hatred, and envy that the dead people showed others when they were alive.

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “anything that people do” (See: Active or Passive)

This refers to things that are done on earth. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: “on the earth” (See: Idiom)

Ecclesiastes 9:7

These two phrases share similar meanings and emphasize the importance of enjoying the basic activities of life. (See: Parallelism)

This refers to food in general. Alternate translation: “your food” (See: Synecdoche)

Here the word “heart” refers to the emotions. Alternate translation: “drink your wine joyfully” (See: Metonymy)

Ecclesiastes 9:8

Wearing white clothes and anointing one’s head with oil were both signs of gladness and celebration. (See: Symbolic Action)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “anoint your head with oil” (See: Active or Passive)

Ecclesiastes 9:9

One should love the wife he has. Alternate translation: “Since you have a wife whom you love, live happily with her” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

This refers to things that are done on earth. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: “on the earth” (See: Idiom)

Alternate translation: “your lifetime”

The word “that” refers to living happily with his wife.

Ecclesiastes 9:10

Here a person is represented by his “hand” since a person often uses his hands to work. Alternate translation: “Whatever you are able to do” (See: Synecdoche)

The nouns “work, “explanation,” and “knowledge” can be expressed as verbs. Alternate translation: “the dead do not work or explain or know or have wisdom” (See: Abstract Nouns)

Ecclesiastes 9:11

This refers to things that are done on earth. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: “on the earth” (See: Idiom)

Alternate translation: “The race is not always won by … The battle is not always won by”

Here “Bread” refers to food in general. Alternate translation: “Food” (See: Metonymy)

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “what happens and when it happens affect them all” (See: Idiom)

“affects all these things.” Here the words “them all” refer to race, battle, bread, riches, and favor.

Ecclesiastes 9:12

This refers to when a person dies. Alternate translation: “when he will die” or “when the time of his death will come” (See: Euphemism)

This speaks of people dying when they do not expect it, in the same way that people catch animals and kill them when they do not expect it. (See: Simile)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Also, this speaks of people experiencing disaster and unfortunate times as if they were being imprisoned or trapped. Alternate translation: “evil times are coming upon the children of human beings” (See: Active or Passive and Metaphor)

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “at times when they do not expect them to happen” or “that suddenly happen to them” (See: Idiom)

Ecclesiastes 9:13

This refers to things that are done on earth. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: “on the earth” (See: Idiom)

Ecclesiastes 9:14

Here the “king” represents himself and his whole army. Alternate translation: “a great king and his army” (See: Synecdoche)

This refers to dirt ramps the army built up against the city walk so that they could climb up and attack the city.

Ecclesiastes 9:15

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “in the city, people found a poor, wise man” or “a poor, wise man lived in the city” (See: Active or Passive and Idiom)

Ecclesiastes 9:16

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “people despise the poor man’s wisdom” (See: Active or Passive)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “they do not listen to what he says” or “they do not take his advice” (See: Active or Passive)

Ecclesiastes 9:17

Here “heard” represents understanding. If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “It is easier to understands the words that wise people speak quietly” (See: Active or Passive)

Ecclesiastes 10

Ecclesiastes 10 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the poetry in all of chapter 10.

Special concepts in this chapter

Advice

This chapter gives a series of disconnected pieces of advice. Translators should not try to smooth the transitions between these pieces of advice. The advice in these statements do not apply in every situation. Therefore, they should be seen as “good ideas.”

Ecclesiastes 10:1

Just as flies can ruin perfume, so folly can ruin a person’s reputation for wisdom and honor. This speaks of how a little folly can ruin a person’s reputation in the same way that a few dead flies ruin perfume. (See: Simile)

This speaks of how a person acting foolishly can ruin his reputation as if his “folly” and “wisdom and honor” were people and that his folly overpowered his wisdom and honor. Alternate translation: “committing a little folly can ruin a person’s wisdom and honor” (See: Personification)

Ecclesiastes 10:2

Here the word “heart” refers to the mind or will. Alternate translation: “The way a wise person thinks … the way a fool thinks” (See: Metonymy)

Here the words “right” and “left” refer to what is right and wrong. Alternate translation: “tends to doing what is right … tends to doing what is wrong” (See: Idiom)

Ecclesiastes 10:3

This refers to the way that he acts. Alternate translation: “he is stupid” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ecclesiastes 10:4

Here a ruler is represented by his “emotions” Alternate translation: “If a ruler becomes angry with you” (See: Metonymy)

Alternate translation: “By remaining calm you may cause an outraged person to become quiet”

Ecclesiastes 10:5

This refers to things that are done on earth. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: “on the earth” (See: Idiom)

Ecclesiastes 10:6

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “Rulers give positions of leadership to fools” (See: Active or Passive)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “they give low positions to successful men” (See: Active or Passive)

This is an idiom. AT” “unimportant positions” (See: Idiom)

Ecclesiastes 10:7

This speaks of successful men walking like slaves walk, because slaves were usually forced to walk and were not permitted to ride. (See: Simile)

Ecclesiastes 10:8

This refers to a snake that was hiding inside the wall. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ecclesiastes 10:9

This refers working in a quarry and cutting larger stones.

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “those stones can hurt him” (See: Active or Passive)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “the wood may injure him” (See: Active or Passive)

Ecclesiastes 10:10

A wise person would have sharpened his blade and would not have had to work so hard.

Ecclesiastes 10:11

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “before the snake charmer charms it” (See: Active or Passive)

Ecclesiastes 10:12

Here the wise man’s speech is represented by his “mouth.” Alternate translation: “The things that a wise man says are gracious” (See: Metonymy)

Here the fool’s speech is represented by his “lips.” This speaks of the fool destroying himself by his speech as if it were eating him. Alternate translation: “The things that a foolish man says destroy him” (See: Metonymy and Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 10:13

A fool’s speech is represented by his “mouth.” Alternate translation: “As a fool begins to speak” (See: Metonymy)

A fool’s speech is represented by his “mouth.” Alternate translation: “as he finishes talking, he speaks wicked madness” (See: Metonymy)

Ecclesiastes 10:14

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “keeps on talking” (See: Idiom)

Alternate translation: “what will happen in the future”

The writer asks this question to emphasize that no one knows what will happen in the future after one’s death. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “No one knows what is coming after him.” or “No one knows what will happen after he dies.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Ecclesiastes 10:15

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “Fools become weary by their toil” or “Fools feel tired by the work that they do” (See: Active or Passive)

This could mean: (1) “so much that he is unable to find the road to town.” That the foolish person becomes so tired from working too hard that he is unable to find his way anywhere, or (2) “because he does not even know the way to town.” That the foolish person becomes tired from working too hard because he does not know enough to go home.

Ecclesiastes 10:16

The writer is speaking to the people of the nation as if they were the land itself, and he is speaking to the land as if it were a person. (See: Apostrophe and Personification)

This means that the king is inexperienced or immature.

This implies that the leaders are more concerned with having a good time than with leading the nation. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ecclesiastes 10:17

The writer is speaking to the people of the nation as if they were the land itself, and he is speaking to the land as if it were a person. (See: Apostrophe and Personification)

This implies that the son has been trained by his elders in the customs of being a good king. Alternate translation: “king has trained by nobles” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

This explains why the blessed leaders eat.

Ecclesiastes 10:18

A lazy person does not keep up on the regular house maintenance. Alternate translation: “Because a lazy person does not repair his house, the roof sinks in” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Here a person is represented by his “hands” Alternate translation: “because of an idle person” or “because the person is idle” (See: Synecdoche)

Here the roof is represented by the whole house. Alternate translation: “the roof leaks” (See: Synecdoche)

Ecclesiastes 10:19

The word “laughter” can be expressed as a verb. Alternate translation: “People prepare food in order to laugh” (See: Abstract Nouns)

The word “enjoyment” can be expressed as a verb. Alternate translation: “wine helps people to enjoy life” (See: Abstract Nouns)

This could mean: (1) “money provides for every need” or (2) “money provides for both food and wine”

Ecclesiastes 10:20

A person’s thoughts are represented by the person’s “mind.” Alternate translation: “not even in your thoughts” (See: Metonymy)

“rich people when you are in your bedroom.” This means that you should not curse rich people even when you are in a private place where no one else will hear.

These two lines mean basically the same thing and are combined for emphasis. This speaks of people finding out what you have said as if a small bird would hear what you say and tell other people. Alternate translation: “For a bird may hear what you say and tell the matter to other people” (See: Parallelism and Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 11

Ecclesiastes 11 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the poetry in all of chapter 11.

Special concepts in this chapter

Advice

This chapter gives a series of disconnected pieces of advice. Translators should not try to smooth the transitions between these pieces of advice. The advice in these statements do not apply in every situation. Therefore, they should be seen as “good ideas.”

Ecclesiastes 11:1

This could mean: (1) this is a metaphor that means a person should be generous with his possessions and will then receive generously from others , or (2) that a person should invest his resources overseas and will make a profit from it. (See: Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 11:2

This could mean: (1) to share your possessions with many people, or (2) to invest your resources in multiple places.

“7, even 8 people.” This is an idiom that means “numerous” people. Alternate translation: “numerous people” or “multiple people” (See: Numbers and Idiom)

Disasters happening is spoken of as if disasters were something that come to a place. Here “on the earth” may imply that these disasters happen to the person who is commanded to share. Alternate translation: “what disasters may happen in the world” or “what bad things may happen to you” (See: Metaphor and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ecclesiastes 11:3

Alternate translation: “the clouds are dark with rain”

Alternate translation: “empty themselves on the ground”

Here “south” and “north” represent any direction. Alternate translation: “in any direction” (See: Merism)

Ecclesiastes 11:4

This could mean: (1) “Any farmer who pays attention to the wind will not plant when the wind is blowing in the wrong direction” or (2) “Any farmer who pays too much attention to the wind will never plant”

This could mean: (1) “Any farmer who pays attention to the clouds will not harvest when it is about to rain” or (2) “Any farmer who pays too much attention to the clouds will never harvest”

Ecclesiastes 11:5

This speaks of wind blowing as if wind traveled on a path. Alternate translation: “As you do not know where the wind comes from or where it goes” (See: Metaphor)

This could mean: (1) Here “bones” is a synecdoche representing the baby as a whole. Alternate translation: “how a baby grows” or (2) literally, “how the bones of a baby grow” (See: Synecdoche)

Ecclesiastes 11:6

Here “hands” represents the whole person. Alternate translation: “keep on working” (See: Synecdoche)

These two phrases mean basically the same thing and emphasize that the person’s work may prosper, no matter what time he has done it. Alternate translation: “whether the seed that you planted in the morning or the seed that you planted in the evening” (See: Doublet and Ellipsis)

Ecclesiastes 11:7

Here the word “light” refers to being able to see the sun and therefore being alive. And, this speaks of the joy of being alive as if the light had a sweet taste. Alternate translation: “it is a joy to be able to see the sun” or “being alive is delightful” (See: Metonymy and Metaphor)

The “eyes” represent the whole person. This phrase means basically the same thing as the previous phrase. Alternate translation: “for a person to see the sun” or “to be alive” (See: Synecdoche and Parallelism)

Ecclesiastes 11:8

Here the word “them” refers to the years that a person is alive.

Future time is spoken of as if the “days are coming” And, here the word “darkness” refers to death. Alternate translation: “how many days that he will be dead” (See: Metaphor and Euphemism)

Here the word “they” refers to the “days of darkness” Alternate translation: “for he will be dead for many more days than he is alive” or “for he will be dead forever”

Here “vanishing vapor” is a metaphor. This could mean: (1) Alternate translation: “No one knows what will happen after he dies” or (2) Alternate translation: “Everything to come is meaningless” (See: Metaphor)

This could mean: (1) “Everything that happens after death” or (2) “Everything that happens in the future”

Ecclesiastes 11:9

These two phrases mean basically the same thing and are combined to emphasize that the man should be happy while he is young. (See: Parallelism)

Here the word “heart” represents the emotions. Alternate translation: “be joyful” (See: Metonymy)

Here the word “heart” may represent the mind or emotions. Alternate translation: “Pursue the good things that you desire” or “Pursue the good things that you have determined to pursue” (See: Metonymy)

Here “eyes” represent the whole person. Alternate translation: “whatever you see that you desire” or “whatever you see to be best” (See: Synecdoche)

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind the word judgment, you could express the same idea with a verbal form such as “judge” or “make you account” Alternate translation: “God will judge you for all these things” or “God will make you account for all of your actions” (See: Abstract Nouns)

Ecclesiastes 11:10

Refusing to be angry is spoken of as if anger were something that can be forced away. Also, “heart” represents a person’s emotions. Alternate translation: “Refuse to be angry” (See: Metaphorand Metonymy)

The authors speaks of things as being useless and meaningless as if they were “vapor” Just as vapor disappears and does not last, the author speaks of things having no lasting value. See how you translated “vapor” in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: “because youth and its strength will not last forever” or “because you will not be young and strong forever” (See: Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 12

Ecclesiastes 12 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the poetry in 12:1-7 and 12:13-14.

Special concepts in this chapter

Advice

This chapter gives a series of disconnected pieces of advice. Translators should not try to smooth the transitions between these pieces of advice. The advice in these statements do not apply in every situation. Therefore, they should be seen as “good ideas.”

Yahweh

At the end of a very impressive life, Solomon looks back and sees that the only real lasting thing in this world is Yahweh. The purpose of his life was to honor Yahweh, something he should have done far more throughout his life. Therefore, he felt that his life was wasted. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ecclesiastes 12:1

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “remember” (See: Idiom)

Future time is spoken of as if the “days are coming” Alternate translation: “before you experience difficult times” or “before bad things happen to you” (See: Metaphor)

Future time is spoken of as if “years arrive” Alternate translation: “before you become old when you say, ‘I no longer enjoy being alive,’” (See: Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 12:2

Growing old and dying is spoken of as if the sun and moon go dark and dark clouds return. Alternate translation: “do this before it seems to you that the light of the sun … after the rain” (See: Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 12:3

The writer describes a house in which various activities stop. This appears to be a metaphor for the human body as it becomes old. (See: Metaphor)

Alternate translation: “strong men become weak”

Alternate translation: “the women who grind grain stop grinding grain because there are few of them”

Ecclesiastes 12:4

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “people shut the doors that lead to the street” (See: Active or Passive)

It is implied that the voice of the birds startle the men awake. If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “when the voice of a bird startles men awake” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Active or Passive)

Here “girls” may be a metaphor for the birds. Alternate translation: “the songs of the birds fade away” (See: Metaphor)

Ecclesiastes 12:5

The “almond tree” is a tree that blossoms in the winter with white flowers. (See: Translate Unknowns)

A grasshopper is a large, straight-winged insect with long, jointed back legs that give it the ability to jump a long way. Here it can only drag itself because it has gotten old and weak. (See: Translate Unknowns)

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind the word desires, you could express the same idea with a verbal form. Alternate translation: “when people no longer desire what they once did naturally” (See: Abstract Nouns)

This refers to death. Alternate translation: “Then man goes to the place of the dead forever” or “Then a person dies and never returns to life” (See: Euphemism)

This could mean: (1) that mourners go down the streets to attend a funeral, or (2) that mourners go down the streets to the house of the person who is about to die.

Ecclesiastes 12:6

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “Remember” (See: Idiom)

The writer speaks of dying as if it were one of these various broken items. Death will break the body just as suddenly as people accidentally break these items while they are using them. (See: Metaphor)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “someone cuts the silver cord” (See: Active or Passive)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “someone crushes the golden bowl” (See: Active or Passive)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “someone shatters the pitcher” (See: Active or Passive)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “someone breaks the water wheel” (See: Active or Passive)

Ecclesiastes 12:7

Here the word “dust” refers to the human body that has decomposed. (See: Metonymy)

Ecclesiastes 12:8

The Teacher speaks of things as being useless and meaningless as if they were “vapor.” Just as vapor disappears and does not last, the author speaks of things having no lasting value. See how you translated “vapor” in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: “Temporary and useless … everything is temporary and useless” or “Meaningless … everything is meaningless” (See: Metaphor)

See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:1.

Ecclesiastes 12:9

Alternate translation: “thought much about and arranged” or “thought much about and wrote down”

Ecclesiastes 12:10

The Teacher wanted the words to be pleasurable to the listener. They bring pleasure because they are well written, not because they are comforting.

Ecclesiastes 12:11

The writer speaks of the teacher who uses his words to instruct people as if the teacher were a shepherd who uses his tools to lead his flock. (See: Metaphor)

This is a simile. Alternate translation: “Wise people encourage people to act, like a sharp stick encourages an animal to move” (See: Simile)

This is a simile. Alternate translation: “Like you can depend on a nail that a person drives firmly into a piece of wood, so you can depend on the words of the masters in collections of their proverbs” (See: Simile)

Alternate translation: “the wise words collected in their proverbs” or “the sayings of the wise”

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “which one shepherd teaches” (See: Active or Passive)

Ecclesiastes 12:12

The noun phrase “the making” can be stated as a verb. Alternate translation: “people will never stop making many books”

Here “body” represents the whole person. Alternate translation: “makes the person tired” (See: Synecdoche)

Ecclesiastes 12:13

Alternate translation: “The final conclusion on the matter”

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “after you have heard everything” (See: Active or Passive)

Ecclesiastes 12:14

Things done in secret is spoken of as if they were an object that was hidden. Alternate translation: “along with everything that people do in secret” (See: Metaphor)