This verse introduces the case described in verses 14-15. Qoheleth’s focus is on the wisdom he saw demonstrated. Even though the wisdom displayed saved the city, the wise man’s success was not rewarded publicly.

I have also seen: on the importance of the verb “to see” in Qoheleth, refer to comments in 1.14. The connective also is significant because it marks the second subsection with its theme of “Wisdom’s power.” “Yet another” is a phrase that can highlight this aspect.

This example of wisdom is Revised Standard Version‘s way of dealing with a complex sentence, which is literally “Also this I saw: [a case of] wisdom under the sun.” Like Revised Standard Version, most translations will probably need to introduce a word like “example” or “case” to make the sentence flow naturally. If possible the sentence should be one that can introduce a short narrative.

Some scholars have suggested that this passage is not about the success of wisdom, and so they change the word “wisdom” in the text or omit it. Jerusalem Bible goes even further and translates “I observed another evil,” though it does point out in a footnote that the Hebrew text is different. We recommend preserving the word “wisdom,” since there is no good reason to omit it. The abstract noun can be maintained, “I also saw a case of what wisdom can do in this world,” or we can refer to some person’s wise action, “I observed how a wise man acts in this world.” Maintaining the abstract noun can be effective, however, since the concluding statement (verse 16) also speaks generally of “wisdom.”

Under the sun: see comments on 1.3. Omitting the phrase will not adversely affect the translation.

It is a feminine pronoun, referring back to the noun wisdom. Using the noun rather than the pronoun is probably helpful, so we can say “this wisdom.” For the adjective great New English Bible suggests “notable,” while Jerusalem Bible, following its change to “evil,” suggests “grave” or serious. New American Bible prefers “sublime.” Since we are recommending that translators give a positive rather than negative tone to the translation of this verse, we suggest “significant,” “notable,” or “important” as reasonable terms to use. New Jerusalem Bible gives us a good model: “it affected me profoundly.”

Instead of making a separate clause, it is also possible to combine the two clauses. We can render it seemed great to me as part of the description of wisdom in the first clause. Some translation possibilities are:

• I observed what I think is yet another significant [or, wonderful] example of wisdom.

• I saw another example of wisdom that impressed me very much.

• I also observed a case that really impressed me—an example of someone being really wise.

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 .