Pengkhotbah 7:10

7:10 Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these days?” ¹ 

for it is not wise to ask that. ² 

Pengkhotbah 10:10

10:10 If an iron axhead ³  is blunt and a workman ⁴  does not sharpen ⁵  its edge, ⁶ 

he must exert a great deal of effort; ⁷ 

so wisdom has the advantage of giving success.

[7:10]  ¹ tn Heb “these.” “Days” does not appear in the Hebrew text as second time, but is supplied in the translation for smoothness.

[7:10]  ² tn Heb “It is not from wisdom that you ask about this.”

[10:10]  ³ 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]  ⁴ tn Heb “he”; the referent (the workman) is implied, and has been specified in the translation for clarity

[10:10]  ⁵ 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]  ⁶ tn Heb “face.”

[10:10]  ⁷ 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.