Ecclesiastes 5:14

Then that wealth was lost through bad luck; ¹  although he fathered a son, he has nothing left to give him. ² 

or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when he has a son there is nothing left for him.

When those riches were lost through a bad investment and he had fathered a son, then there was nothing to support him.

or they are put into risky investments that turn sour, and everything is lost. In the end, there is nothing left to pass on to one’s children.

And then loses it all in a bad business deal. He fathered a child but hasn't a cent left to give him.

And I saw the destruction of his wealth by an evil chance; and when he became the father of a son he had nothing in his hand.

and those riches were lost in a bad venture; though they are parents of children, they have nothing in their hands.

But those riches perish through misfortune; When he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand.

Then that wealth was lost through bad luck; ¹  although he fathered a son, he has nothing left to give him. ² 

¹ tn Or “through a bad business deal.” The basic meaning of עִנְיַן (’inyan) is “business; affair” (HALOT 857 s.v. עִנְיָן) or “occupation; task” (BDB 775 s.v. עִנְיָן). The term is used in a specific sense in reference to business activity (Eccl 8:16), as well as in a more general sense in reference to events that occur on earth (Eccl 1:13; 4:8). BDB suggests that the phrase עִנְיַן רָע (’inyan ra’) in 5:13 refers to a bad business deal (BDB 775 s.v. עִנְיָן); however, HALOT suggests that it means “bad luck” (HALOT 857 s.v. עִנְיָן). The English versions reflect the same two approaches: (1) bad luck: “some misfortune” (NAB, NIV) and (2) a bad business deal: “a bad investment” (NASB), “a bad venture” (RSV, NRSV, MLB), “some unlucky venture” (Moffatt, NJPS), “an unlucky venture” (NEB), “an evil adventure” (ASV).

² tn Heb “there is nothing in his hand.”