SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 2006 – Page 27

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 4:2

4:2 So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.

I think that people who have died are more fortunate than people who are still alive.
-or-
I decided that it is better for those who have died than for those who are still alive. (English Easy-to-Read Version)

© 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 5:18

5:18a Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting:

However, I myself have observed something ⌊that is⌋ good.
-or-
I have seen what is best for people to do on earth.

5:18b to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of life that God has given him—

It is fitting for people to eat well and drink and enjoy their work here in this world for as many years as God allows them ⌊to live⌋ .
-or-
They should eat, drink, and enjoy the work they have during their short time here. God has given them these few days, (English Easy-to-Read Version)

5:18c for this is his lot.

That is ⌊what God gives⌋ for them to enjoy.
-or-
and that is all they have. (English Easy-to-Read Version)
-or-
That is their reward ⌊for their work⌋ .

5:18a-c (combined)

God has given to us a short life on this earth. I think that we should enjoy our lives. We should eat and drink. And we should do our work well. That is what God wants us to do. (Easy English Bible)
-or-
What is the best thing to do in the short life God has given us? I think we should enjoy eating, drinking, and working hard. This is what God intends for us to do. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I have observed that the best thing a person can do is to eat, drink, and enjoy all the work God gives us throughout life. Enjoyment of life is God’s gift to us.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 7:18

7:18a It is good to grasp the one and not let the other slip from your hand.

It is good to follow both of those ⌊teachings⌋ ,
-or-
Obey that first warning and do not ignore the second,
-or-
Remember both these things. Do not forget either of them. (EEB)

7:18b For he who fears God will follow both warnings.

because whoever submits to God will avoid all extremes.
-or-
If you have reverence for God, you will avoid both extremes.

7:18a-b (combined)

If you respect God, you will avoid sinning and being a fool.
-or-
Continue to avoid doing what is evil and doing what is foolish. Avoid doing both of those things and always respect God.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 9:4

9:4a There is hope, however, for anyone who is among the living;

People who are alive ⌊might⌋ hope ⌊for something good⌋ .
-or-
But those who are alive at least can hope ⌊to have a good life before they die⌋ .

9:4b for even a live dog is better than a dead lion.

⌊But that good is only good like⌋ a live dog is better off than a dead lion.
-or-

⌊As they say,⌋ “It is better to be alive even if people do not respect you, than you to be a dead hero.”

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 10:18

10:18a Through laziness the roof caves in,

Lazy people let the roofs of ⌊their own⌋ houses rot.
-or-
Lazy people let their roofs collapse, (FBV)

10:18b and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.

And the roof leaks because they will not work.
-or-
idle people don’t repair their leaky houses. (FBV)
-or-
Because of hands that arenʼt busy, the house leaks. (New International Reader’s Version)

10:18a-b (combined)

Some people are too lazy to fix a leaky roof— then the house collapses. (EASY2015)
-or-
If a man is too lazy to work on his house, its roof will fall down. Rain will make his rooms wet. (EEB)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 1:14

1:14a I have seen all the things that are done under the sun,

I have watched everything going on in this world.
-or-
I have considered everything that people do in this world.

1:14b and have found them all to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.

Look! All those activities are pointless ⌊like⌋ trying to catch the wind.
-or-
Everything is as useless as trying to control where the wind blows.
-or-

⌊I want you (plur.) to know that⌋ everything ⌊that people do⌋ is as useless as ⌊people⌋ trying to control where the wind blows.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 3:3

3:3a a time to kill and a time to heal,

⌊There is⌋ a time for killing, and a time for healing.
-or-

⌊There is also⌋ a time ⌊when people⌋ kill ⌊others⌋ and a time ⌊when people⌋ heal ⌊others⌋ .
-or-

⌊People⌋ kill ⌊others⌋ at a certain time and ⌊people⌋ help ⌊others⌋ to get well at a certain time.

3:3b a time to break down and a time to build,

⌊There is⌋ a time for tearing down and a time for building up.
-or-
There is a time ⌊when people⌋ tear down ⌊houses⌋ and a time ⌊when people⌋ build up ⌊houses⌋ .
-or-

⌊People⌋ destroy ⌊things⌋ at a certain time and ⌊people⌋ build ⌊new things⌋ at a certain time.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 4:13

Section 4:13-16

Thinking you are very important is useless

4:13 Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.

A poor young person who is wise is better ⌊able to rule⌋ than an old king who is foolish and no longer remembers how to listen to advice.
-or-
⌊There may be⌋ an old king, who doesn’t listen to people who warn him ⌊when he makes a bad decision⌋ . ⌊And there may be⌋ a young man, poor but wise. The young man is better than the old king.
-or-
You may be poor and you may be young. But anyway it is a good thing to be wise. A king will not always listen when people speak to him. If you are wise, you are better. You are better than that kind of king. He is a fool. (Easy English Bible)

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

Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 2006