4:2 So I considered 1 those who are dead and gone 2
more fortunate than those who are still alive. 3
4:6 Better is one handful with some rest
than two hands full of toil 4 and chasing the wind.
6:5 though it never saw the light of day 5 nor knew anything, 6
yet it has more rest 7 than that man –
7:10 Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these days?” 8
for it is not wise to ask that. 9
9:4 But whoever is among 10 the living 11 has hope;
a live dog is better than a dead lion.
9:17 The words of the wise are heard in quiet,
more than the shouting of a ruler is heard 12 among fools.
1 tn The verb שָׁבַח (shavakh) has a two-fold range of meaning: (1) “to praise; to laud”; and (2) “to congratulate” (HALOT 1387 s.v. I שׁבח; BDB 986 s.v. II שָׁבַח). The LXX translated it as ἐπῄνεσα (ephnesa, “I praised”). The English versions reflect the range of possible meanings: “praised” (KJV, ASV, Douay); “congratulated” (MLB, NASB); “declared/judged/accounted/thought…fortunate/happy” (NJPS, NEB, NIV, RSV, NRSV, NAB).
2 tn Heb “the dead who had already died.”
3 tn Heb “the living who are alive.”
4 sn Qoheleth lists three approaches to labor: (1) the competitive workaholic in 4:4, (2) the impoverished sluggard in 4:5, and (3) the contented laborer in 4:6. The balanced approach rebukes the two extremes.
5 tn Heb “it never saw the sun.”
6 tn The word “anything” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.
7 sn The Hebrew term translated rest here refers to freedom from toil, anxiety, and misery – part of the miserable misfortune that the miserly man of wealth must endure.
8 tn Heb “these.” “Days” does not appear in the Hebrew text as second time, but is supplied in the translation for smoothness.
9 tn Heb “It is not from wisdom that you ask about this.”
10 tn The consonantal text (Kethib) has “is chosen, selected.” The translation follows the marginal reading (Qere), “is joined.” See BDB 288 s.v. חָבַר Pu.
11 tn Heb “all the living.”
12 tn The phrase “is heard” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity and smoothness. Note its appearance in the previous line.