2:23 For all day long 1 his work produces pain and frustration, 2
and even at night his mind cannot relax! 3
This also is futile!
4:14 For he came out of prison 4 to become king,
even though he had been born poor in what would become his 5 kingdom.
8:16 When I tried 6 to gain 7 wisdom
and to observe the activity 8 on earth –
even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night 9 –
9:5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead do not know anything;
they have no further reward – and even the memory of them disappears. 10
1 tn Heb “all his days.”
2 tn The syntax of this verse has been interpreted in two different ways: (1) The phrase “all his days” (כָל־יָמָיו, khol-yamayv) is the subject of a verbless clause, and the noun “pain” (מַכְאֹבִים, makh’ovim) is a predicate nominative or a predicate of apposition (see R. J. Williams, Hebrew Syntax, 15-16, §71). Likewise, the noun “his work” (עִנְיָנוֹ, ’inyano) is the subject of a second verbless clause, and the vexation” (כַעַס, kha’as) is a predicate nominative: “All his days are pain, and his work is vexation.” (2) The noun “his work” (עִנְיָנוֹ) is the subject of both nouns, “pain and vexation” (וָכַעַס מַכְאֹבִים, makh’ovim vakha’as), which are predicate nominatives, while the phrase “all his days” (כָל־יָמָיו) is an adverbial accusative functioning temporally: “All day long, his work is pain and vexation.” The latter option is supported by the parallelism between “even at night” and “all day long.” This verse draws out an ironic contrast/comparison between his physical toil/labor during the day and his emotional anxiety at night. Even at night, he has no break!
3 tn Heb “his heart (i.e., mind) does not rest.”
4 tn Heb “came from the house of bonds.”
5 tn The phrase “what would become” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity. However, it is not altogether clear whether the 3rd person masculine singular suffix (“his”) on בְּמַלְכוּתוֹ (bÿmalkhuto, “his kingdom”) refers to the old foolish king or to the poor but wise youth of 4:13.
6 tn Heb “I applied my heart.”
7 tn Heb “to know.”
8 tn Heb “and to see the business which is done.”
9 tn Heb “for no one sees sleep with their eyes either day or night.” The construction גַם …כִּי (ki… gam) expresses a concessive sense: “even though” (e.g., Ps 23:4; Prov 22:6; Eccl 4:14; Isa 1:15; Lam 3:8; Hos 8:10; 9:16); cf. HALOT 196 s.v. גַּם 9; BDB 169 s.v. גַּם 6; 473 s.v. כִּי 2.c.
10 tn Heb “for their memory is forgotten.” The pronominal suffix is an objective genitive, “memory of them.”