en_tn/tNotes/Ecclesiastes/Ecclesiastes_02.md

Ecclesiastes 2

Ecclesiastes 2:1

I said in my heart

Here the author refers to himself by his "heart" to emphasize his feelings. Alternate translation: "I said to myself" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)

I will test you with happiness

Here the word "you" refers to himself. The word "happiness" can be expressed as an adjective. Alternate translation: "I will test myself with things that make me happy" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns)

So enjoy pleasure

The word "pleasure" can be expressed as a verb. Alternate translation: "So I will enjoy things that please me" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns)

this also is meaningless

"this also only lasted for a short time, like a temporary breeze"

Ecclesiastes 2:2

I said about laughter, "It is crazy,"

The direct quotation can be translated as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: "I said that it is crazy to laugh at things" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-quotations)

What use is it?

The author uses a rhetorical question to emphasize that pleasure is useless. Alternate translation: "It is useless." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)

Ecclesiastes 2:3

I explored in my heart

This speaks of thinking hard for a long time as if it were exploring. Also, the author speaks of his feelings and his thoughts as if they were his "heart." Alternate translation: "I thought hard about" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

to gratify my desires with wine

The word "desires" may be expressed as a verbal phrase. Alternate translation: "to use wine to make myself happy" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns)

I let my mind guide me with wisdom

Here the author speaks of using the wisdom that he had been taught to guide himself as if this wisdom were a person who guided him. Alternate translation: "I thought about the things that wise people had taught me" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)

under heaven

This refers to things that are done on earth. Alternate translation: "on the earth" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)

during the days of their lives

"during the time that they are alive"

Ecclesiastes 2:4

I built for myself houses and planted for myself vineyards

The writer probably told people to do the work for him. Alternate translation: "I had people build houses and plant vineyards for me" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

Ecclesiastes 2:5

I built for myself gardens and parks, and I planted

The writer probably told people to do the work. Alternate translation: "I had people build for me gardens and parks; I had them plant" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

gardens and parks

These two words share similar meanings and refer to beautiful orchards of fruit trees. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-doublet)

Ecclesiastes 2:6

I created

The writer probably told people to do the work. Alternate translation: "I had them create" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

to water a forest

"to provide water for a forest"

forest where trees were grown

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "forest where trees grew" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)

Ecclesiastes 2:7

I had slaves born in my palace

"I had slaves that were born in my palace" or "My slaves bore children and they also were my slaves"

much more than any king

The understood verb may be supplied. Alternate translation: "much more than any other king had" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-ellipsis)

Ecclesiastes 2:8

the treasures of kings and provinces

This refers to the gold and other wealth that neighboring countries were forced to pay to the king of Israel. Alternate translation: "that I acquired from the treasures of kings and the rulers of provinces" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)

provinces

Here "provinces" represents the rulers of the provinces. Alternate translation: "the rulers of provinces" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

and many concubines, the delight of the children of men

This means that he had many concubines that he enjoyed sleeping with, as any man enjoys sleeping with women. Alternate translation: "I greatly enjoyed many concubines, as would delight any man" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)

Ecclesiastes 2:9

than all who were before me in Jerusalem

This refers to all the previous rulers of Jerusalem. Alternate translation: "than all the kings who had ruled before me in Jerusalem" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)

my wisdom remained with me

This is an idiom. "I continued to act wisely" or "I continued to be wise" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)

Ecclesiastes 2:10

Whatever my eyes desired ... from them

Here the author refers to himself by his "eyes" to emphasize what he sees. Alternate translation: "Whatever I saw and desired ... from myself" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)

I did not withhold from them

This can be stated positively. Alternate translation: "I got for them"

I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure

Here the author refers to himself by his "heart" to emphasize his desires. This can be stated positively and the word "pleasure" can be expressed as a verb. Alternate translation: "I did not keep myself from any pleasure" or "I allowed myself to enjoy everything that made me happy" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns)

my heart rejoiced

Here the author refers to himself by his "heart" to emphasize his desires. Alternate translation: "I rejoiced" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)

Ecclesiastes 2:11

all the deeds that my hands had accomplished

Here the author refers to himself by his "hands." Alternate translation: "all that I had accomplished" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)

like chasing the wind

The author says that everything that people do is as useless as if they were trying to control the wind. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: "are as useless as trying to control the wind" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

There was no profit under the sun in it

"But it had no profit under the sun"

under the sun

This refers to things that are done on earth. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: "on the earth" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)

Ecclesiastes 2:12

madness and folly

The words "madness" and "folly" have similar meanings and refer to foolish thinking and behavior, respectively. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:17. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-doublet)

For what more can the man who becomes the next king do than what the king has already done?

The author uses this rhetorical question to emphasize his point that the next king will not be able to do anything more valuable that what he had already done. This question can be written as a statement. Alternate translation: "For the next king who comes after the king can do nothing that a king before him has not already done." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)

the man who becomes the next king

"the man who succeeds the current king" or "the next king who comes after me"

Ecclesiastes 2:13

wisdom has advantages over folly, just as light is better than darkness

This speaks of how wisdom is better than folly by comparing it to how light is better than darkness. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)

Ecclesiastes 2:14

The wise man uses his eyes in his head to see where he is going

This speaks of a wise man making wise decisions as walking and paying attention to where he is going. Alternate translation: "The wise man is like a person who uses his eyes to see where he is going" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

uses his eyes in his head to see

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: "pays attention and looks to see" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)

the fool walks in darkness

This compares a fool making bad decisions to someone walking in darkness. Alternate translation: "the fool is like a person who walks in the dark" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

the same event

death

Ecclesiastes 2:15

I said in my heart

Here the author refers to himself by his "heart" to emphasize his feelings. Alternate translation: "I said to myself" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)

So what difference does it make if I am very wise?

The author uses this rhetorical question to emphasize that there is no benefit to being wise. This question can be written as a statement. Alternate translation: "So it makes no difference if I am very wise." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)

I concluded in my heart

Here the author refers to himself by his "heart" to emphasize his feelings. Alternate translation: "I concluded" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)

Ecclesiastes 2:16

For the wise man, like the fool, is not remembered for very long

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "People do not remember the wise man for very long, just as they do not remember the fool for very long" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)

everything will have been long forgotten

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "people will have long forgotten everything" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)

Ecclesiastes 2:17

all the work done

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "all the work that people do" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)

was evil to me

"troubled me"

like chasing the wind

The author says everything that people do is as useless as if they were trying to control the wind. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: "as useless as trying to control the wind" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

under the sun

This refers to things that are done on earth. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: "on the earth" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)

Ecclesiastes 2:18

to the man who comes after me

"to the man who inherits it after me"

Ecclesiastes 2:19

For who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool?

The author uses this rhetorical question to emphasize that no one knows the character the man who will inherit his wealth. Alternate translation: "For no one knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)

he will be

The word "he" refers to the author's heir.

under the sun

This refers to things that are done on earth. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: "on the earth" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)

that my work and wisdom have built

Here the author's "work" and "wisdom" represent himself and the things he did in his wisdom. He probably had help with the literal buildings. Alternate translation: "that I worked very hard and wisely to build" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

Ecclesiastes 2:20

my heart began to despair

Here the author refers to himself by his "heart" to emphasize his feelings. Alternate translation: "I began to despair" or "I began to lose all hope" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)

Ecclesiastes 2:21

who works with wisdom, with knowledge, and skill

"who works wisely and skillfully, using the things that he has learned"

who has not made any of it

"who has not worked for any of it"

a great injustice

"a great disaster"

Ecclesiastes 2:22

What profit does a man gain from all the work and from the striving of heart that he labors at under the sun?

The author uses a rhetorical question to cause the reader to think deeply about important things. Translate "what profit does a man gain from all the work" as you did in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: "A man seems to gain no lasting benefit from working hard and trying in his heart to complete his labors under the sun." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)

under the sun

This refers to things that are done on earth. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Alternate translation: "on the earth" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)

Ecclesiastes 2:23

painful and stressful

These two words mean basically the same thing and emphasize how difficult the person's work is. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-doublet)

his soul does not find rest

Here man's mind is referred to as his "soul" to emphasize his deep thoughts. Alternate translation: "his mind does not rest" or "he continues to worry" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

Ecclesiastes 2:24

the hand of God

Here God is represented by his "hand" to emphasize how he provides for people. Alternate translation: "from God" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

Ecclesiastes 2:25

For who can eat or who can have any kind of pleasure apart from God?

The author uses this rhetorical question to emphasize that no pleasure can be had without God's provision. This question can be written as a statement. Alternate translation: "For no one can eat or have any kind of pleasure apart from God." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)

Ecclesiastes 2:26

so that he may give it away to someone who pleases God

Possible meanings for the word "he" are 1) God or 2) the sinner. This also can be translated without making it clear who it is that gives the things that the sinner stored. Alternate translation: "so that the one who pleases God may have it"

like chasing the wind

The author speaks of everything that people do as being useless as if they were trying to control the wind. See how you translated this in Ecclesiastes 1:14. Alternate translation: "as useless as trying to control the wind" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)