Discovery BoxEcclesiastes 4:14 
Context4:14 For he came out of prison 1 to become king,
even though he had been born poor in what would become his 2 kingdom.
Ecclesiastes 8:16
Context8:16 When I tried 3 to gain 4 wisdom
and to observe the activity 5 on earth –
even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night 6 –
1 tn Heb “came from the house of bonds.”
2 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.
3 tn Heb “I applied my heart.”
4 tn Heb “to know.”
5 tn Heb “and to see the business which is done.”
6 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.
