There is an evil which I have seen under the sun: on this introductory phrase see comments on 6.1. As we have seen earlier, this is a typical way Qoheleth begins a new unit.

As it were an error: in Hebrew the clause begins with a particle giving it a more forceful sense, “indeed, it is an error.” The term error has been used once before by Qoheleth in 5.6, where it was translated “mistake”; refer to comments there. The word refers to a mistake made carelessly and unthinkingly rather than deliberately. Good News Translation gives “injustice” as the meaning, but that is an overinterpretation. In any event, the use of the term error identifies it with the kind of thing a fool does.

Proceeding from the ruler can be understood as laying the blame on him. This is exactly how Good News Translation considers it, “an injustice caused by rulers.” Similar is Revised English Bible, “… for which the rulers are responsible.” These translations arise partly from the view commented on earlier, namely, the situation of unjust lawyers in the courts, where justice should have been the top priority. Rulers were entrusted with maintaining justice. Here again Qoheleth notes that things are not always as they should be in this world. However, the fact that Qoheleth uses the term “an unintentional error,” as well as the examples following in verses 5-6, suggests that the ruler has not personally or deliberately arranged this strange state of affairs. Even if the ruler responsible for what happens, the text does not mean that he actually brings it about. Jerusalem Bible also follows the Good News Translation view of the word and suggests “the type of misjudgment to which rulers are prone.” On the term ruler see comments in 7.19. The text simply makes the point that the situation described is “from before the ruler,” meaning “from his presence.”

We suggest a translation something like:

• Here is another wrong I have witnessed in the world. Indeed, the ruler himself must accept responsibility for it.

• There is another distressing thing I’ve seen in this world. It is caused by a ruler’s [careless] mistake.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Zogbo, Lynell. A Handbook on the Book of Ecclesiates. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .