SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 2006

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 1:15

1:15a What is crooked cannot be straightened,

Many things that are crooked cannot be caused to become straight. (Translation for Translators)
-or-
A person cannot straighten out something that twists and turns.
-or-

⌊It is just as⌋ pointless ⌊to⌋ try and make a thing with curves to be straight.

1:15b and what is lacking cannot be counted.

And no one can count things that are missing.
-or-
If it isn’t there you/they cannot count it.

© 2006 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 3:4

3:4a a time to weep and a time to laugh,

⌊There is⌋ a time for weeping, and a time for laughing.
-or-

⌊There is also⌋ a time ⌊when people⌋ cry and a time ⌊when people⌋ laugh.
-or-

⌊People⌋ are sad at certain times and ⌊people⌋ are happy at certain times.

3:4b a time to mourn and a time to dance,

⌊There is⌋ a time for grieving, and a time for dancing.
-or-
There is a time ⌊when people⌋ lament and a time ⌊when people⌋ dance.
-or-

⌊People⌋ sit and mourn at certain times and ⌊people⌋ rise up and dance at certain times.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 4:14

4:14 For the youth has come from the prison to the kingship, though he was born poor in his own kingdom.

That young person might have been in prison ⌊because of debt⌋ . ⌊Maybe⌋ he was born poor in his own country. Still, ⌊because he is wise⌋ he will become king ⌊one day⌋ .
-or-
You may have been in a prison and you may be very poor. Your father may not be a king, but you could become a king. (EASY2015)
-or-
Maybe the young ruler was born a poor man in the kingdom. And maybe he came from prison to rule the country. (English Easy-to-Read Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 6:10

6:10a Whatever exists was named long ago,

Everything that has existed has already been described.
-or-
⌊God⌋ gave names to everything that exists.

6:10b and what happens to a man is foreknown;

It was known long ago what each person would be. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
He knows what human beings are like.

6:10a-b (combined)

Whatever has happened in the past already has a name. Mortals are already known for what they are. (God’s Word)

6:10c but he cannot contend with one stronger than he.

and that you can’t win an argument with a superior. (FBV)
-or-
We cannot oppose ⌊God⌋ who is so much stronger that we are.
-or-

⌊God⌋ is greater than anyone, so no one can argue with him.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 8:1

8:1a Who is like the wise man?

Who is really wise? (God’s Word)
-or-
How do we recognize a truly wise person?
-or-
I will tell you what the truly wise person is like.

8:1b Who knows the interpretation of a matter?

Who really knows the meaning of things?
-or-
Who knows how to interpret things? (FBV)
-or-
I will tell you who can really explain the meaning of things.

8:1a-b (combined)

What does it mean to be wise and to know the meaning of things?
-or-
How do you recognize the person who is wise, the one who knows the meaning of things?

8:1c A man’s wisdom brightens his face,

Wisdom helps a person to be happy. (EEB)
-or-
If a person is truly wise, his face will show it.

8:1d and the sternness of his face is changed.

It changes a sad face into a happy one. (English Easy-to-Read Version)
-or-

⌊Wisdom⌋ makes their frowns disappear.

8:1c-d (combined)

A wise person has a friendly face. There is no anger in it.
-or-
You can see whether a person is wise ⌊or not⌋ by his happy face. Wisdom changes a person’s appearance.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 9:16

9:16a And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength,

Therefore I concluded, “Wisdom is better than power.”
-or-
So I concluded that wisdom is better than might. (NET Bible)

9:16b but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”

But the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are ignored. (New American Standard Bible)
-or-

⌊This is true⌋ even though people ⌊might⌋ still reject what a wise person says and so refuse to follow ⌊his advice⌋ .
-or-
But if you are poor, nobody accepts that you are also wise. People soon forget what you said. (EEB)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 11:10

11:10a So banish sorrow from your heart,

So remove sorrow from your heart (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
So don’t let your mind worry, (FBV)
-or-
Do not allow yourself to think sad thoughts,

11:10b and cast off pain from your body,

and keep pain away from your body. (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
and avoid things that hurt your body. (FBV)
-or-
and avoid doing things that are painful ⌊or harmful⌋ for your body.

11:10c for youth and vigor are fleeting.

⌊Do this⌋ because your childhood and strength of youth are pointless.
-or-

⌊Do this⌋ because you will only be young and strong for a short time.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:9

2:9a So I became great and surpassed all in Jerusalem who had preceded me;

Thus I was great. I was greater than anyone ⌊who had lived⌋ in Jerusalem before me.
-or-
I was the most famous person who had ever lived in Jerusalem. (EASY2015)

2:9b and my wisdom remained with me.

In all this my wisdom remained ⌊continually⌋ with me.
-or-
And I was very wise. (EASY2015)

Step into the multitudes of languages of the Bible and join the worldwide conversation!

Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 2006