complete verse (Ecclesiastes 12:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Ecclesiastes 12:2:

  • Kupsabiny: “That is when the sun grows dim,
    as well as the moon and stars,
    and the sky/land becomes cloudy/overcast.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Before darkness covers the light of the sun and light of the moon,
    before the moon and the stars become dark and before rain comes from the clouds.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Remember him before the light of the sun, moon and stars grows-dark on you (sing.), and while not yet to-grow-dark on you (sing.) your (sing.) surrounding as-if (it is) always darkened by a dark-cloud.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Ecclesiastes 12:2

This verse contains the second of the “before” clauses and so marks the second subunit within 12.1-7. We note how it uses some of the same vocabulary (“light,” “darkness,” “sun”) as 11.7.

Before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened: the thought here seems to be the end of the world, reversing the process of creation. What causes the end is not mentioned. The main question, however, is whether this describes a real cosmic event, or whether it has a figurative meaning. Then, if it has a figurative meaning, what does it refer to? To old age and the gradual loss of sight, or perhaps to death? Good News Translation concludes it refers to old age, making this clear by adding the words “for you”: “the light of the sun, the moon, and the stars will grow dim for you.” Bible en français courant similarly personalizes the verse: “You will be in darkness, as when the light of the sun weakens….” This version goes on to point out in a footnote that this and the descriptions that follow (verses 2-5) describe the physical problems and weaknesses that come with old age. Many versions include similar notes (Jerusalem Bible, for example). But there is still another possible interpretation. We have already noted that “darkness” often means death, so the darkening of these heavenly bodies may also be a way to refer to death. The meaning here would be to remember the Creator before it is too late, that is, before a person dies.

The translator has several options. We can follow the common language versions, though this seems to restrict the interpretation of the passage. Or we can translate literally, possibly with notes stating that this description can be applied to old age or death. As noted in the introduction to this chapter, we suggest this latter approach; thus references to sun, light, moon, and stars can be retained.

For the verb darkened we can also say “cease to shine,” “shine no longer.”

And the clouds return after the rain: this clause complements the previous one, in some way referring to darkness. The meaning of the Hebrew verb rendered as return is difficult to determine. What are the clouds doing? Are they “retreating,” “going away again” after the rain, signaling the end of the rain? Or do they “come back” after the rain, suggesting that yet more rain will fall? And if the latter, is this image meant to be positive or negative?

If we consider the context of this clause, it seems that the clouds are returning rather than retreating. This signals the return of darkness, paralleling the ideas in the first part of the verse. The picture is of one storm coming after another, with no hope of a reprieve. Certainly the context speaks of threatening clouds, not clouds bringing blessing and benefit. Good News Translation avoids the problem of translating the Hebrew verb by saying “and the rain clouds will never pass away.” This expresses the image of darkness but does not seem to faithfully render the original.

We recommend translating this clause in a straightforward manner: “before the rain clouds come back.” We can also make the image clearer: “before the rain clouds come back to darken the sky.”

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ecclesiastes 12:2

12:2a before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened,

⌊Remember him⌋ before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is not bright anymore.
-or-
Someday the light of the sun and the moon and the stars will all seem dim to you. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
before the time comes when the sun and the moon and the stars become dark to you (English Easy-to-Read Version)

12:2b and the clouds return after the rain,

And ⌊remember him before⌋ it rains and ⌊before more dark⌋ clouds come.
-or-
Rain clouds will remain over your head. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
before problems come again and again like one storm after another. (English Easy-to-Read Version)

12:2a-b (reordered)

When you are old, the light from the sun will not seem to be bright. You will not see the moon or the stars. There will always be dark clouds after the rain. (EEB) ⌊Remember him before this happens.⌋
-or-
In the end, you will not see the light that comes from the sun. And will you not see the moon or the stars. There will always be black clouds in the sky. (EASY2015)

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Commentaire sur la traduction de l'Ecclésiaste 12.2

Par la suite, Qohéleth ajoute un grande nombre de propositions. Ce verset, comme les suivants décrivent la vieillesse comme une vie où il n’y a aucun plaisir. Les expressions sont très poétiques, parlant d’une manière figurée des astres qui s’assombrissent et de l’arrivée des pluies et des nuages. Ces images peuvent décrire la vie d’une vieille personne en général, mais beaucoup pensent qu’elles suggèrent que la personne est en train de perdre la vue.

– avant que ne s’assombrissent le soleil… : la proposition subordonnée temporelle commence comme celle en Ecc 12.1, אֲשֶׁר עַד ʿad ʾašèr « jusqu’à ce que ». Certaines versions la changent en une phrase indépendante : « Alors le soleil s’assombrit » (Bible en français courant). On pourrait dire par exemple, « en ce moment-là, le soleil s’assombrit ». Les traducteurs devraient chercher un verbe qui convient à ce phénomène. Le verbe חשׁך hšk, est apparenté au nom « ténèbres ». Ces astres « s’obscurcissent » (Nouvelle Bible Segond, La Bible du Semeur, Bible de Jérusalem), « paraissent sombres » (Parole de Vie), « deviennent noirs » ou « ne brillent plus ». Dans certaines langues, un futur conviendra et dans d’autres, un présent. Si la langue cible fait une distinction entre un futur proche et lointain, ce dernier semblerait plus approprié, puisque l’auditoire est supposé être jeune.

Qohéleth cite une liste de choses qui deviennent sombres : le soleil, la lumière, la lune et les étoiles. Le mot lumière ne figure pas souvent dans une telle liste. Il se peut que ce soit un autre mot pour le soleil. Mais voir Ecc 11.7. La traduction des mots lune et les étoiles ne posera pas de problème dans la majorité des langues.

et que les nuages ne reviennent, puis la pluie : un autre aspect de cet obscurcissement, c’est l’arrivée des nuages et la pluie. Le texte hébreu dit litt. « et reviennent les nuages après la pluie ». Ces mots et l’utilisation du verbe hébreu שׁוב šoûv, revenir pose un problème d’interprétation, donnant suite à des traductions diverses. La Parole de Vie et presque toutes les autres versions suivent l’hébreu et dit « les nuages reviennent après la pluie ». Alter suggère que le retour des nuages après la pluie pourrait indiquer le déclin qui accompagne la vieillesse, indiquant peut-être que la vue diminue. Exceptionnellement la Traduction œcuménique de la Bible voit l’arrivée des nuages, puis la pluie, mais cette interprétation n’est pas recommandée.

Un autre problème, c’est que dans bien des cultures, les nuages et la pluie sont bienvenus et des signes positifs de bénédiction. On pourrait ajouter un adjectif comme sombres pour exprimer la connotation moins positive ici. On pourrait aussi ajouter une note d’explication, comme dans la Traduction œcuménique de la Bible qui dit « Le soleil, la lumière… symbolisent la joie de vivre. Les nuages et la pluie symbolisent ici la tristesse du déclin de l’homme ».

Source: Zogbo, Lynell. L’Ecclésiaste – Manuel de traduction – Commentaire linguistique et exégétique de la Bible. Alliance biblique universelle, 2021.