Pengkhotbah 3:12

Enjoy Life in the Present

3:12 I have concluded ¹  that there is nothing better for people ² 

than ³  to be happy and to enjoy

themselves ⁴  as long as they live,

Pengkhotbah 4:11-12

4:11 Furthermore, if two lie down together, they can keep each other warm,

but how can one person keep warm by himself?

4:12 Although an assailant may overpower ⁵  one person,

two can withstand him.

Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken.

Pengkhotbah 10:10-11

10:10 If an iron axhead ⁶  is blunt and a workman ⁷  does not sharpen ⁸  its edge, ⁹ 

he must exert a great deal of effort; ¹⁰ 

so wisdom has the advantage of giving success.

10:11 If the snake should bite before it is charmed, ¹¹ 

the snake charmer ¹²  is in trouble. ¹³ 

[3:12]  ¹ tn Heb “I know.”

[3:12]  ² tn Heb “for them”; the referent (people, i.e., mankind) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[3:12]  ³ tn Qoheleth uses the exceptive particle אִם…כִּי (ki…’im, “except”) to identify the only exception to the futility within man’s life (BDB 474 s.v. כִּי 2).

[3:12]  ⁴ tn Heb “to do good.” The phrase לַעֲשׂוֹת טוֹב (la’asot tov) functions idiomatically for “to experience [or see] happiness [or joy].” The verb עָשַׂה (’asah) probably denotes “to acquire; to obtain” (BDB 795 s.v. עָשַׂה II.7), and טוֹב (tov) means “good; pleasure; happiness,” e.g., Eccl 2:24; 3:13; 5:17 (BDB 375 s.v. טוֹב 1).

[4:12]  ⁵ tn The verbal root תקף means “to overpower; to prevail over” e.g., Job 14:20; 15:24; Eccl 4:12; 6:10 (HALOT 1786 s.v. תקף).

[10:10]  ⁶ tn The term “ax head” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity. The preceding noun “iron” functions as a metonymy of material (i.e., iron) for the object with which it is associated (i.e., ax head).

[10:10]  ⁷ tn Heb “he”; the referent (the workman) is implied, and has been specified in the translation for clarity

[10:10]  ⁸ tn The verb קלל in the Pilpel means “to sharpen; to make a blade sharp” (HALOT 1104 s.v. קלל 1).This denominative verb is derived from the rare noun II קָלַל “smooth; shiny” (referring to bronze; Ezek 1:7; Dan 10:6; HALOT 1105 s.v.). Sharpening the blade or head of a bronze ax will make it smooth and shiny. It is not derived from I קָלַל (qalal) “to treat light” or the noun I קְלָלָה (qÿlalah) “curse.” Nor is it related to I קָלַל “to shake” (Ezek 21:26); cf. HALOT 1104. BDB 886 s.v. קָלַל 2 erroneously relates it to I קָלַל, suggesting “to whet” or “to move quickly to and fro.”

[10:10]  ⁹ tn Heb “face.”

[10:10]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “strength.” The term וַחֲיָלִים (vakhayalim, conjunction + plural noun from חַיִל, khayil, “strength; efficiency”) is an example of a plural of intensification (GKC 397-98 §124.e). The point is that it is a waste of a great deal of strength and energy. If a person is not smart, he will have to use a lot of energy and waste his efficiency.

[10:11]  ¹¹ tn Heb “without charming.”

[10:11]  ¹² tn Heb “the master of the tongue.”

[10:11]  ¹³ tn Heb “has no profit”; ASV, NAB, NRSV “there is no advantage.”