Pengkhotbah 6:4

6:4 Though the stillborn child ¹  came into the world ²  for no reason ³  and departed into darkness,

though its name is shrouded in darkness, ⁴ 

Pengkhotbah 6:9

6:9 It is better to be content with ⁵  what the eyes can see ⁶ 

than for one’s heart always to crave more. ⁷ 

This continual longing ⁸  is futile – like ⁹  chasing the wind.

Pengkhotbah 8:5

8:5 Whoever obeys his ¹⁰  command will not experience harm,

and a wise person ¹¹  knows the proper time ¹²  and procedure.

Pengkhotbah 8:7

8:7 Surely no one knows the future, ¹³ 

and no one can tell another person what will happen. ¹⁴ 

[6:4]  ¹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (“the stillborn child”) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[6:4]  ² tn The phrase “into the world” does not appear in Hebrew, but is added in the translation for clarity.

[6:4]  ³ sn The birth of the stillborn was in vain – it did it no good to be born.

[6:4]  ⁴ sn The name of the stillborn is forgotten.

[6:9]  ⁵ tn The phrase “to be content with” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.

[6:9]  ⁶ tn The expression מַרְאֵה עֵינַיִם (mar’eh ’enayim, “the seeing of the eyes”) is a metonymy of cause (i.e., seeing an object) for effect (i.e., being content with what the eyes can see); see E. W. Bullinger, Figures of Speech, 552-54.

[6:9]  ⁷ tn Heb “the roaming of the soul.” The expression מֵהֲלָךְ־נָפֶשׁ (mehalakh-nafesh, “the roaming of the soul”) is a metonymy for unfulfilled desires. The term “soul” (נֶפֶשׁ, nefesh) is used as a metonymy of association for man’s desires and appetites (BDB 660 s.v. נֶפֶשׁ 5.c; 6.a). This also involves the personification of the roving appetite as “roving” (מֵהֲלָךְ); see BDB 235 s.v. הָלַךְ II.3.f; 232 I.3.

[6:9]  ⁸ tn The phrase “continual longing” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.

[6:9]  ⁹ tn The term “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity and smoothness.

[8:5]  ¹⁰ tn The word “his” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for smoothness and clarity.

[8:5]  ¹¹ tn Heb “the heart of a wise man.”

[8:5]  ¹² tn The term עֵת (’et, “time”) connotes “a proper, suitable time for an event; the right moment” (HALOT 900 s.v. עֵת 6; BDB 773 s.v. עֵת 2.b); e.g., “it was the time for rain” (Ezra 10:13); “a time of judgment for the nations” (Ezek 30:3); “there is an appropriate time for every occasion” (Eccl 3:1); “the time when mountain goats are born” (Job 39:1); “the rain in its season” (Deut 11:14; Jer 5:24); “the time for the harvest” (Hos 2:11; Ps 1:3); “food in its season” (Ps 104:27).

[8:7]  ¹³ tn Heb “what will be.”

[8:7]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “Who can tell him what will be?”