Pengkhotbah 3:16

The Problem of Injustice and Oppression

3:16 I saw something else on earth: ¹ 

In the place of justice, there was wickedness,

and in the place of fairness, ²  there was wickedness.

Pengkhotbah 8:5-6

8:5 Whoever obeys his ³  command will not experience harm,

and a wise person ⁴  knows the proper time ⁵  and procedure.

8:6 For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter,

for the oppression ⁶  of the king ⁷  is severe upon his victim. ⁸ 

[3:16]  ¹ tn Heb “under the sun.”

[3:16]  ² tn Or “righteousness.”

[8:5]  ³ tn The word “his” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for smoothness and clarity.

[8:5]  ⁴ tn Heb “the heart of a wise man.”

[8:5]  ⁵ 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).

[8:6]  ⁶ tn Heb “evil”; or “misery.”

[8:6]  ⁷ tn Heb “the man.”

[8:6]  ⁸ tn Heb “upon him.”