Ecclesiastes 12:3

12:3 when those who keep watch over the house ¹  begin to tremble, ² 

and the virile men begin to stoop over, ³ 

and the grinders ⁴  begin to cease because they grow few,

and those who look through the windows grow dim, ⁵ 

Ecclesiastes 7:14

7:14 In times of prosperity ⁶  be joyful,

but in times of adversity ⁷  consider this:

God has made one as well as the other, ⁸ 

so that no one can discover what the future holds. ⁹ 

Ecclesiastes 8:8

8:8 Just as no one has power over the wind to restrain it, ¹⁰ 

so no one has power over the day of his ¹¹  death.

Just as no one can be discharged during the battle, ¹² 

so wickedness cannot rescue the wicked. ¹³ 

Ecclesiastes 8:16

Limitations of Human Wisdom

8:16 When I tried ¹⁴  to gain ¹⁵  wisdom

and to observe the activity ¹⁶  on earth –

even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night ¹⁷  –

[12:3]  ¹ tn Heb “the watchers of the house.”

[12:3]  ² tn The verb זְוּעַ (zÿua’, “to tremble”) probably does not refer to physical tremors but to trembling in fear (e.g., Esth 5:9; Hab 2:7; Sir 48:12); cf. HALOT 267 s.v. זוע). At the onset of old age, those who had been the most courageous during their youth suddenly become fearful.

[12:3]  ³ tn The verb עָוַת (’avat, “to bend; to stoop”) means “to be stooped” (HALOT 804 s.v. עות) rather than “to bend themselves” (BDB 736 s.v. עות). The perfect tense may be taken in an ingressive sense (“begin to stoop over”).

[12:3]  ⁴ tn The term הַטֹּחֲנוֹת (hattokhanot, Qal active participle feminine plural from טָחַן, takhan, “to grind”) is a double entendre. In its literal sense, it refers to female mill-grinders; in its figurative sense, it refers to molar teeth (HALOT 374 s.v. *טֹחֲנָה). The related Hebrew noun טַחֲנָה (takhanah) refers to a “mill,” and the related Arabic noun tahinat means “molar tooth” (HALOT 374 s.v. *טַחֲנָה).

[12:3]  ⁵ tn The verb חָשַׁךְ (khashakh, “to grow dim”) is used elsewhere in reference to failing eyesight (e.g., Ps 69:24; Lam 5:17); see HALOT 361 s.v. חשׁך 2. Therefore, the phrase “those who look through the windows” is probably a figurative description of the eyes, picturing failing eyesight at the onset of old age.

[7:14]  ⁶ tn Heb “the day of good.”

[7:14]  ⁷ tn Heb “the day of evil.”

[7:14]  ⁸ tn Less probable renderings of this line are “God hath made the one side by side with the other” (ASV) and “God has set the one alongside the other” (NEB).

[7:14]  ⁹ tn Heb “anything after him.” This line is misinterpreted by several versions: “that man may not find against him any just complaint” (Douay); “consequently, man may find no fault with Him” (NJPS); “so that man cannot find fault with him in anything” (NAB).

[8:8]  ¹¹ tn Heb “There is not a man who has mastery over the wind to restrain the wind.”

[8:8]  ¹² tn The word “his” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.

[8:8]  ¹³ tn Heb “There is no discharge in war.”

[8:8]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “its owners.”

[8:16]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “I applied my heart.”

[8:16]  ¹⁷ tn Heb “to know.”

[8:16]  ¹⁸ tn Heb “and to see the business which is done.”

[8:16]  ¹⁹ tn Heb “for no one sees sleep with their eyes either day or night.” The construction גַם …כִּי (ki… gam) expresses a concessive sense: “even though” (e.g., Ps 23:4; Prov 22:6; Eccl 4:14; Isa 1:15; Lam 3:8; Hos 8:10; 9:16); cf. HALOT 196 s.v. גַּם 9; BDB 169 s.v. גַּם 6; 473 s.v. כִּי 2.c.