Ecclesiastes 2:23

2:23 For all day long ¹  his work produces pain and frustration, ² 

and even at night his mind cannot relax! ³ 

This also is futile!

Ecclesiastes 8:13

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

nor will they ⁴  prolong their ⁵  days like a shadow, ⁶ 

because they ⁷  do not stand in fear ⁸  before God.

Ecclesiastes 8:16

Limitations of Human Wisdom

8:16 When I tried ⁹  to gain ¹⁰  wisdom

and to observe the activity ¹¹  on earth –

even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night ¹²  –

[2:23]  ¹ tn Heb “all his days.”

[2:23]  ² tn The syntax of this verse has been interpreted in two different ways: (1) The phrase “all his days” (כָל־יָמָיו, khol-yamayv) is the subject of a verbless clause, and the noun “pain” (מַכְאֹבִים, makh’ovim) is a predicate nominative or a predicate of apposition (see R. J. Williams, Hebrew Syntax, 15-16, §71). Likewise, the noun “his work” (עִנְיָנוֹ, ’inyano) is the subject of a second verbless clause, and the vexation” (כַעַס, kha’as) is a predicate nominative: “All his days are pain, and his work is vexation.” (2) The noun “his work” (עִנְיָנוֹ) is the subject of both nouns, “pain and vexation” (וָכַעַס מַכְאֹבִים, makh’ovim vakha’as), which are predicate nominatives, while the phrase “all his days” (כָל־יָמָיו) is an adverbial accusative functioning temporally: “All day long, his work is pain and vexation.” The latter option is supported by the parallelism between “even at night” and “all day long.” This verse draws out an ironic contrast/comparison between his physical toil/labor during the day and his emotional anxiety at night. Even at night, he has no break!

[2:23]  ³ tn Heb “his heart (i.e., mind) does not rest.”

[8:13]  ⁴ tn Heb “he.”

[8:13]  ⁵ tn The word “their” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for smoothness.

[8:13]  ⁶ 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]  ⁷ tn Heb “he.”

[8:13]  ⁸ tn Heb “they do not fear.”

[8:16]  ⁷ tn Heb “I applied my heart.”

[8:16]  ⁸ tn Heb “to know.”

[8:16]  ⁹ tn Heb “and to see the business which is done.”

[8:16]  ¹⁰ 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.