SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 2006 – Page 2

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 4:9

4:9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.

Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor. (NET Bible)
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It is good to have a friend. You can enjoy the work that you and your friend do together. (Easy English Bible)
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Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. (New Living Translation (2004))

© 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 6:5

6:5a The child, though neither seeing the sun nor knowing anything,

And he would never have experienced living or have known anything.
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Although he did not live one day and knew nothing about life,

6:5b has more rest

At least ⌊the unborn child⌋ finds rest,
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he can rest

6:5c than that man,

whereas ⌊the unsatisfied person⌋ can never ⌊rest⌋ .
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more than the ⌊the frustrated⌋ rich man.

6:5a-c (combined)

It didnʼt even see the sun. It didnʼt know anything at all. But it has more rest than that man does. (New International Reader’s Version)
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He never saw the light of day or knew what it was like to live. Yet the child finds rest, and not this man. (FBV)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 7:25

7:25a I directed my mind to understand, to explore, to search out wisdom and explanations,

I was determined to investigate everything in order to be wise and to understand ⌊what⌋ everything ⌊means⌋ .
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I was determined to discover everything in order to be wise and to understand the plan behind everything.

7:25b and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the folly of madness.

I learned that wickedness is stupid and foolishness is madness. (God’s Word)
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I did learn that it is foolish to be evil, and it is crazy to act like a fool. (English Easy-to-Read Version)
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At the same time, I wanted to understand why it’s stupid and senseless to be an evil fool. (Contemporary English Version)
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and to know that wickedness is folly and that foolishness is madness. (New Revised Standard Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 9:11

9:11a I saw something else under the sun:

I observed something else in this world.
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I have seen another thing that happens here on the earth. (EEB)

9:11b The race is not to the swift

Fast ⌊runners⌋ do not ⌊always⌋ win races.
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It is not always the fastest runner who arrives at his destination first.

9:11c nor the battle to the strong;

Strong ⌊warriors⌋ do not ⌊always⌋ win battles.
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The strongest soldiers do not always win the battle. (EEB)

9:11d neither is the bread to the wise,

Wise ⌊people⌋ are not ⌊always⌋ well fed.
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Very wise people do not always have food to eat. (EEB)

9:11e nor the wealth to the intelligent

Smart ⌊people⌋ are not ⌊always⌋ rich.
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Very clever people do not always become rich. (EEB)

9:11f nor the favor to the skillful.

Competent ⌊people⌋ are not ⌊always⌋ well liked.
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People who have many skills ⌊do not always⌋ have influence ⌊on others⌋ .
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And people don’t always praise the talented person.

9:11g For time and chance happen to all.

Sometimes things just happen to people.
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Yes, anything may happen to anyone at any time. (EEB)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 11:5

11:5a As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones are formed in a mother’s womb,

(Revised Standard Version🙂 As you do not know how the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child,

You do not ⌊even⌋ know how ⌊God⌋ puts the life-breath into the baby inside the womb of a pregnant woman.
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You don’t know how the breath of life comes to the child in its mother’s womb.
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No one can explain how life comes to a child in its mother’s womb.

11:5b so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

In the same way, you don’t know what God will do—and he makes everything happen. (English Easy-to-Read Version)
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⌊In the same way⌋ you can’t understand the work of God, the Creator of everything.
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So nobody can explain the things that God does. He is the one who has made everything. (EEB)

11:5a-b (reordered)

God made everything, but you can not understand what he does. ⌊And you can’t⌋ understand either how new life begins in the womb of a pregnant woman.
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God made all things. But you will never understand all that he does. ⌊For example,⌋ you do not know the way ⌊God puts⌋ the life-breath in a baby inside the womb of a pregnant woman.
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You do not even know how life comes to a child in its mother’s womb! So, you cannot possibly understand what God does—he who creates everything!

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:4

2:4a I expanded my pursuits.

I accomplished great things.
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I did great things.

2:4b I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.

I ⌊commanded my workers to⌋ build houses and to plant vineyards for myself.
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I had houses built for me and vineyards planted.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 3:10

3:10 I have seen the burden that God has laid upon the sons of men to occupy them.

I considered the burden with which God has burdened everyone.
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I have thought about this in connection with all the various kinds of work God gave to people.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 5:4

5:4a When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it,

If you promise God ⌊that you will do something⌋ , then do not delay in doing what you said.
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Any time you tell God ⌊you’ll do something,⌋ do it quickly.

5:4b because He takes no pleasure in fools.

God is not pleased with foolish people ⌊who do not do what they say⌋ .
-or-

⌊It’s stupid if you delay doing what you promised⌋ and God doesn’t like stupid people.

5:4c Fulfill your vow.

Do what you promised to do.
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Give God what you promised to give him. (English Easy-to-Read Version)

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 2006