complete verse (Ecclesiastes 3:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Ecclesiastes 3:9:

  • Kupsabiny: “What does a person get from working very hard?” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “What will the one who works get for his pain?” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If these times were- already -destined/appointed by God, what is the value of the hard-work/labor of mankind?” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “What do people gain from all the work that they do?/It seems that people gain very little from all the work that they do.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:9

What gain…? is the same question as was put in 1.3; 2.22: “What lasting benefit…?” It is advisable to use the same form as was used for the question in those cases.

The worker replaces the more general term “humankind” (or, “man”) that was used in 1.3. It means literally “the person who does things [or, who works].”

His toil: see comments on 1.3.

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 .