Ecclesiastes 3:12

Enjoy Life in the Present

3:12 I have concluded ¹  that there is nothing better for people ² 

than ³  to be happy and to enjoy

themselves ⁴  as long as they live,

Ecclesiastes 1:17

1:17 So I decided ⁵  to discern the benefit of ⁶  wisdom and knowledge over ⁷  foolish behavior and ideas; ⁸ 

however, I concluded ⁹  that even ¹⁰  this endeavor ¹¹  is like ¹²  trying to chase the wind! ¹³ 

Ecclesiastes 3:14

God’s Sovereignty

3:14 I also know that whatever God does will endure forever;

nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken away from it.

God has made it this way, so that men will fear him.

[3:12]  ¹ tn Heb “I know.”

[3:12]  ² tn Heb “for them”; the referent (people, i.e., mankind) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[3:12]  ³ tn Qoheleth uses the exceptive particle אִם…כִּי (ki…’im, “except”) to identify the only exception to the futility within man’s life (BDB 474 s.v. כִּי 2).

[3:12]  ⁴ tn Heb “to do good.” The phrase לַעֲשׂוֹת טוֹב (la’asot tov) functions idiomatically for “to experience [or see] happiness [or joy].” The verb עָשַׂה (’asah) probably denotes “to acquire; to obtain” (BDB 795 s.v. עָשַׂה II.7), and טוֹב (tov) means “good; pleasure; happiness,” e.g., Eccl 2:24; 3:13; 5:17 (BDB 375 s.v. טוֹב 1).

[1:17]  ⁵ tn Heb “gave my heart,” or “set my mind.” See v. 13.

[1:17]  ⁶ tn The phrase “the benefit of” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.

[1:17]  ⁷ tn The word “over” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.

[1:17]  ⁸ tn The terms שִׂכְלוּת (sikhlut, “folly”) and הוֹלֵלוֹת (holelot, “foolishness”) are synonyms. The term שִׂכְלוּת (alternate spelling of סִכְלוּת, sikhlut) refers to foolish behavior (HALOT 755 s.v. סִכְלוּת), while הוֹלֵלוֹת refers to foolish ideas and mental blindness (HALOT 242 s.v. הוֹלֵלוֹת). Qoheleth uses these terms to refer to foolish ideas and self-indulgent pleasures (e.g., Eccl 2:2-3, 12-14; 7:25; 9:3; 10:1, 6, 13).

[1:17]  ⁹ tn Heb “I know.”

[1:17]  ¹⁰ tn The term גַּם (gam, “even”) is a particle of association and emphasis (HALOT 195 s.v. גַּם).

[1:17]  ¹¹ tn This term does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.

[1:17]  ¹² tn This term does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.

[1:17]  ¹³ tn Heb “striving of wind.”