Ecclesiastes 10:5

10:5 I have seen another ¹  misfortune ²  on the earth: ³ 

It is an error a ruler makes. ⁴ 

Ecclesiastes 8:13

8:13 But it will not go well with the wicked,

nor will they ⁵  prolong their ⁶  days like a shadow, ⁷ 

because they ⁸  do not stand in fear ⁹  before God.

[10:5]  ¹ tn The term “another” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation to indicate that this is not the first “misfortune” described by the Teacher. See 5:13, 16; 6:1-2.

[10:5]  ² tn Heb “an evil.”

[10:5]  ³ tn Heb “under the sun.”

[10:5]  ⁴ tn Heb “like an error that comes forth from the presence of a ruler.”

[8:13]  ⁵ tn Heb “he.”

[8:13]  ⁶ tn The word “their” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for smoothness.

[8:13]  ⁷ tn The phrase “like a shadow” (כַּצֵּל, katsel) modifies the verb (“prolong”) rather than the noun (“days”). Several English versions misconstrue the line: “he will not prolong his days, [which are] like a shadow” (KJV, ASV); “the man who does not fear God is like a shadow” (NEB); and “he will not prolong his shadowy days” (NAB). It should be rendered “he will not prolong his days like a shadow” (RSV, NRSV, NASB, MLB, NIV). Unlike a shadow that lengthens at sunset, the wicked do not normally live long.

[8:13]  ⁸ tn Heb “he.”

[8:13]  ⁹ tn Heb “they do not fear.”