8:16 When I tried 1 to gain 2 wisdom
and to observe the activity 3 on earth –
even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night 4 –
1 tn Heb “I applied my heart.”
2 tn Heb “to know.”
3 tn Heb “and to see the business which is done.”
4 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.