Ecclesiastes 4:16

4:16 There is no end to all the people ¹  nor to the past generations, ² 

yet future generations ³  will not rejoice in him.

This also is profitless and like ⁴  chasing the wind.

[4:16]  ¹ tn Heb “the people.” The term עַם (’am, “people”) can refer to the subjects of the king (BDB 766 s.v. עַם 2).

[4:16]  ² tn Heb “those who were before them.”

[4:16]  ³ tn Heb “those coming after.” The Hebrew term הָאַחֲרוֹנִים (ha’akharonim, “those coming after”) is derived from the preposition אַחַר (’akhar, “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).

[4:16]  ⁴ tn The word “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.