Summarizing his observations is typical of the method Qoheleth uses. All this refers to the various situations listed in the previous verses, especially from verse 5, where a descriptive section commences. Rather than the Hebrew collective this, the context suggests “these” as a better translation in many languages.

Good News Translation links verse 9 with the following verses rather than with what has come before. We believe the evidence suggests that verse 9 continues the section 8.1-8 rather than beginning a new section. This verse contains important key terms and themes from the previous passage: the word “time,” the root “evil,” and most importantly the word shalat “have power over.” Therefore we suggest there should be no section heading before verse 9; it should come before verse 10.

I observed comes from the verb “see,” widely used in this book for Qoheleth’s examination of issues that concern him. Here the expression is even stronger, since a second phrase is added, while applying my mind. This second phrase is also often used by Qoheleth (1.13, 17; 2.3 for example). See comments on 1.13, 17 for the significance of these phrases.

To all that is done under the sun is literally “to all the deeds that are done under the sun.” For this typical phrase see comments on 1.14. All in this setting cannot mean “everything” in the absolute sense, but rather “many things” (or “matters”) in the broad sense. The passive form is done may have to be expressed as an active form in some languages, in which case a subject will have to be provided. One solution is to use the intransitive form “all that happens.” Otherwise we have the awkward problem of deciding whose deeds are observed—those of God, of people, or of both. The examples provided above leave the clear impression that the primary subject is “people”; they are the ones who have little control over what happens to them. Translating it as “all the matters that people have to deal with…” is a satisfactory solution.

While man lords it over man to his hurt: we note initially the appearance in this clause of “time,” and the root shlt, “have power over,” the keywords in verses 4-8. These features demonstrate that verse 9 is a summary statement based on the previous verses. However, it is probably correct to view this clause as an independent comment emphasizing the darker side of human experience.

Lords it over can be rendered as “dominates” or “controls” (in the negative sense). If possible a word should be chosen that will link to other verses where the same word or concept is presented. This will help preserve the literary unity of the passage as well as help the reader see the connection.

Although human beings do not have power to determine how long they will live, Qoheleth notes here that they do have the power to affect the lives of other people. Man can be rendered in two different ways in this verse according to the context. The first can be translated “one person” or a similar expression, and the second translated as “another,” in view of the fact that the subject and object are not the same person.

To his hurt in Hebrew is difficult to explain because the identity of the pronoun his is not clear. It can refer to the agent of the hurt as well as to the object of the hurt. Most commentators and translations choose the latter, but it is always possible that both are in mind, because oppressive actions tend to have a bad effect on both the oppressor and the oppressed. In such an independent comment as this is, the context provides no clue for precisely interpreting its details. We can render his here as “their mutual….” Hurt translates the customary Hebrew term for crisis or hardship, pain or suffering.

Beginning this final clause is the Hebrew noun for “time.” Fuller discussion of this term will be found in chapter 3, especially 3.1. Revised Standard Version while seems to give a different meaning to the noun here. It suggests a period in which people do a variety of things, rather than identifying a particular moment in time. We always depend upon the context to determine the full meaning of words used, and so it seems that the noun “time” in conjunction with the relative marker “which,” or “when,” does have the adverbial function noted in Revised Standard Version while. New English Bible expresses the same idea: “There was a time when….” Jerusalem Bible has “whenever.”

Suggestions for translation are:

• I observed all these things and thought about all that happens on this earth. Sometimes people control others and both suffer.

• All these things I studied carefully, thinking long and hard about all that happens in this world. People keep on dominating one another, to their own hurt.

• I took careful note of all those things that happen and cause hurt whenever one person tries to control another.

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 .