Ecclesiastes 4:13-16
New English Translation
Labor Motivated by Prestige Seeking
13 A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king
who no longer knows how to receive advice.
14 For he came out of prison[a] to become king,
even though he had been born poor in what would become his[b] kingdom.
15 I considered all the living who walk on earth,[c]
as well as the successor[d] who would arise[e] in his place.
16 There is no end to all the people[f] nor to the past generations,[g]
yet future generations[h] will not rejoice in him.
This also is profitless and like[i] chasing the wind.
Notas al pie
- Ecclesiastes 4:14 tn Heb “came from the house of bonds.”
- Ecclesiastes 4:14 tn The phrase “what would become” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity. However, it is not altogether clear whether the third person masculine singular suffix (“his”) on בְּמַלְכוּתוֹ (bemalkhuto, “his kingdom”) refers to the old foolish king or to the poor but wise youth of 4:13.
- Ecclesiastes 4:15 tn Heb “under the sun.”
- Ecclesiastes 4:15 tn Heb “the second youth.” It is not clear whether “the second” (הַשֵּׁנִי, hasheni) refers to the young man who succeeds the old king or a second youthful successor.
- Ecclesiastes 4:15 tn The verb עָמַד (ʿamad, “to stand”) may denote “to arise; to appear; to come on the scene” (e.g., Ps 106:30; Dan 8:22, 23; 11:2-4; 12:1; Ezra 2:63; Neh 7:65); cf. BDB 764 s.v. עָמַד 6.a; HALOT 840 s.v. עמד 1.a.
- Ecclesiastes 4:16 tn Heb “the people.” The term עַם (ʿam, “people”) can refer to the subjects of the king (BDB 766 s.v. עַם 2).
- Ecclesiastes 4:16 tn Heb “those who were before them.”
- Ecclesiastes 4:16 tn Heb “those coming after.” The Hebrew term הָאַחֲרוֹנִים (haʾakharonim, “those coming after”) is derived from the preposition אַחַר (ʾakhar, “behind”). When used in reference to time, it refers to future generations (e.g., Deut 29:21; Pss 48:14; 78:4, 6; 102:19; Job 18:20; Eccl 1:11; 4:16); cf. HALOT 36 s.v. אַחַר B.3; BDB 30 s.v. אַחַר 2.b).
- Ecclesiastes 4:16 tn The word “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.
Ecclesiastes 4:13-16
English Standard Version
13 Better was (A)a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how (B)to take advice. 14 For he went (C)from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. 15 I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that[a] youth who was to stand in the king's[b] place. 16 There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is (D)vanity and a striving after wind.
Read full chapterNotas al pie
- Ecclesiastes 4:15 Hebrew the second
- Ecclesiastes 4:15 Hebrew his
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