We take note first of the form of the verse. It consists of an introduction followed by two parallel sayings. Again we recognize the balanced rhythm so frequent in Ecclesiastes. When the lines are set out as poetry, this rhythm becomes clear.

This pattern is lost in Good News Translation, but the meaning is preserved.

Moreover I saw under the sun represents the second matter Qoheleth wishes to discuss in this chapter. It follows the observation in verse 10. This can be made plain by a discourse marker like Good News Translation‘s “In addition” or by a phrase such as “I made another observation about life here on earth.” In some languages a time expression may be used, if such an expression is also used to signal logical development: “Then I made another observation,” or “After that I discovered one other thing….”

In the place of justice, even there was wickedness: in the next two lines we find an image where a state of affairs is described in terms of place. Literally “the place of judgment” could refer to any location where judgment is passed, so in ancient Israel the expression could refer to the city gate where judges and others dispensed justice. It can also refer to priestly or royal persons, as they also were responsible for seeing that justice was done. Here place may refer not only to the location where justice is handed out, but to the entire process of bringing justice, as well as to those who were responsible for enacting it. Thus place of justice may be the courts, elders, or judges. For translation we can consider “where we expect to be dealt with justly” or “where true and honest judgments should be made.”

Even there was wickedness: Revised Standard Version even draws out the forcefulness of the short Hebrew clause. There was is not the phrase that normally points to something. It emphasizes “in that place [itself].” We can render it as “in that very place [all was evil],” or “right there [evil prevailed].” If a less abstract reference is necessary, wickedness can be thought of as “evil actions or deeds.”

In the place of righteousness introduces us to the term righteousness, which here is parallel to “justice.” The context indicates that this place is the place where we should expect everything to be done in a spirit of righteousness. Righteousness describes a state of affairs brought about when the law is followed. So we can translate as “where we expect to find righteousness” or “where people should act rightly.”

As noted above, this verse has two parallel lines. Translators must decide if such a structure is effective. If so, a model for translation can be:

• Where we expect to find justice done,
we find only evil.
Where we expect to see righteousness at work,
we find only evil.

Alternatively we can vary the order of the words of the last line for poetic effect:

• Where we expect to find justice prevailing
we find only evil.
Where we expect to see righteousness
only evil is there.

However, if such forms are too repetitive, the idea can be reduced to fewer lines while still emphasizing the distressing situation:

• Where we expect justice and righteousness to be carried out,
in that very place we find evil instead!

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 .