Ecclesiastes 4:14

For he came out of prison ¹  to become king, even though he had been born poor in what would become his ²  kingdom.

The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom.

For he has come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom.

Such a youth could come from prison and succeed. He might even become king, though he was born in poverty.

I saw a youth just like this start with nothing and go from rags to riches,

Because out of a prison the young man comes to be king, though by birth he was only a poor man in the kingdom.

One can indeed come out of prison to reign, even though born poor in the kingdom.

For he comes out of prison to be king, Although he was born poor in his kingdom.

For he came out of prison ¹  to become king, even though he had been born poor in what would become his ²  kingdom.

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.