OET interlinear ECC 2:1

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

וּ⁠רְאֵ֣ה בְ⁠ט֑וֹב

and,look on,good

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of Madness, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [and find out what is truly satisfying]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

וְ⁠הִנֵּ֥ה

and=see/lo/see!

Solomon is speaking of his inner deliberation as if he were physically exploring a territory. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [But in fact]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

נָּ֛א אֲנַסְּ⁠כָ֛ה בְ⁠שִׂמְחָ֖ה וּ⁠רְאֵ֣ה בְ⁠ט֑וֹב

now let,me_put_you_to_the_test with,pleasure and,look on,good

Solomon is using the question form to express his conclusion that joy accomplishes nothing worthwhile. If a speaker of your language would not use the question form for that purpose, you could translate this as a statement or as an exclamation.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

אָמַ֤רְתִּֽי אֲנִי֙ בְּ⁠לִבִּ֔⁠י

said I in,heart_of,my

The word heart here represents a person’s thoughts and desires. Solomon is speaking to his heart as a way of expressing his inner deliberation. You may have a comparable expression in your language, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [I said to myself]

Note 5 topic: writing-pronouns

אָמַ֤רְתִּֽי אֲנִי֙ בְּ⁠לִבִּ֔⁠י

said I in,heart_of,my

Solomon is stating the pronoun I separately, even though the verb translated as spoke already includes this meaning. He is doing that to emphasize that he himself is the one who undertook this test. If a speaker of your language would use an explicit pronoun for the same purpose, you may want to use that construction in your translation. If not, your language may have other ways of showing the meaning here.

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative

נָּ֛א אֲנַסְּ⁠כָ֛ה

now let,me_put_you_to_the_test

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of joy, you could express the same idea in another way.

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

גַם־ה֖וּא הָֽבֶל

also/even he/it Abel

Solomon is speaking as if the futility and transience of his pursuit of pleasure were vapor, which disappears quickly and lacks substance. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [it also was temporary and without lasting value]