SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 2006 – Page 25

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 1:6

1:6a The wind blows southward, then turns northward;

The wind blows toward the south and then shifts around to blow toward the north.
-or-
The wind blows one way, then changes and blows the other way.

1:6b round and round it swirls,

The wind shifts around and around.
-or-
It continually changes directions,

1:6c ever returning on its course.

⌊Yet⌋ it always returns to blow like it did before.
-or-
but it always repeats the same kind of pattern.

© 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 2:22

2:22 For what does a man get for all the toil and striving with which he labors under the sun?

People labor and struggle, working so hard in this world, and what do they get? ⌊They get nothing!⌋
-or-
People have to do a lot of work on this earth. But they get nothing that they can keep. (EASY2015)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 4:6

4:6 Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.

It’s better to earn a little without stress than a lot with too much stress and chasing after the wind. (FBV)
-or-
The best way to avoid both extremes is to work enough so that you have what you need. Don’t stress and overwork yourself.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 6:2

6:2a God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires;

God gives some people wealth, possessions, and high status. They have everything they could ever want.
-or-
God has given to some people very great wealth and honor so that they can have everything they want.

6:2b but God does not allow him to enjoy them.

However, God does not give them the ability to enjoy those things.
-or-
But he does not let them enjoy it.

6:2c Instead, a stranger will enjoy them.

Instead strangers enjoy it all.
-or-
Instead somebody else does! (FBV)
-or-
Some stranger will enjoy it instead. (Good News Translation)

6:2d This is futile and a grievous affliction.

This is pointless and causes terrible problems.
-or-
This has no purpose. It is a terrible thing to happen to someone. (EEB)
-or-
This is pointless and is a painful tragedy. (God’s Word)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 7:22

7:22 For you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.

And you yourself remember that you have insulted other people many times.
-or-
And you know that many times you too have said bad things about other people. (English Easy-to-Read Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 9:8

9:8a Let your garments always be white,

Wear nice clothes always
-or-
Always dress yourself well in good clothes. (EEB)

9:8b and never spare the oil for your head.

and make yourself look good. (English Easy-to-Read Version)
-or-
And you should comb your hair well.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 11:2

11:2a Divide your portion among seven, or even eight,

(Revised Standard Version: ) Give a portion to seven, or even to eight,

Share what you have with seven or eight others. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Share your things with several other people. (EEB)

11:2b for you do not know what disaster may befall the land.

⌊Do this⌋ because you do not know what disaster might happen in this world.
-or-
You do not know when trouble will come. Then those people can help you. (EEB)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 2:1

Section 2:1-11

People are not satisfied with enjoying themselves and making things

2:1a I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure;

I thought, “I will seek to enjoy ⌊many⌋ pleasures,
-or-
Then I thought, “Let’s see now, I will try to do everything that I enjoy.
-or-
I decided that I would examine pleasure, using myself as a test,

2:1b enjoy what is good!”

and discover what good ⌊effects⌋ that will have.”
-or-
I will find out whether doing what I enjoy can truly enable me to be happy.” (Translation for Translators)
-or-
to try to understand its value.

2:1c But it proved to be futile.

But I learned that this is also useless. (English Easy-to-Read Version)
-or-
But ⌊I discovered that ⌋ ⌊having fun⌋ was also pointless.

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

Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 2006