OET interlinear ECC 2:14

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

הֶֽ⁠חָכָם֙

the_wise,[person]

The word head here represents awareness and understanding. Solomon means that a wise person is perceptive and sees what is ahead. You may have a comparable expression in your language, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [A wise person can see what is ahead]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְ⁠הַ⁠כְּסִ֖יל בַּ⁠חֹ֣שֶׁךְ הוֹלֵ֑ךְ

and,the,fool in,darkness walks

Solomon is speaking of death as if it were an event that happens to a person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [but the fool lives as if he will not die]

Note 3 topic: writing-pronouns

וְ⁠יָדַ֣עְתִּי גַם־אָ֔נִי

and,I_knew also/even I

Solomon is speaking as if the futility and transience of his pursuit of wisdom 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: [I also know]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / euphemism

שֶׁ⁠מִּקְרֶ֥ה אֶחָ֖ד יִקְרֶ֥ה כֻּלָּֽ⁠ם

(cmp),fate one(ms) befalls (Some words not found in UHB: the_wise,[person] eyes_of,his [are]_in,head_of,his and,the,fool in,darkness walks and,I_knew also/even I (cmp),fate one(ms) befalls DOM of_them_of,all )

Solomon is referring to death in a polite way by calling it the happening of the fool. He means that he will die just as the fool dies. If this expression does not have that meaning for your readers, you could use a comparable expression from your language that does have that meaning, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [that both of them will die]

Note 5 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

Solomon is stating the pronoun I separately, even though the verb translated as know already includes this meaning. He is doing that to emphasize that he himself has recognized this difficult truth. 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. Alternate translation: [The wise, his eyes are in his head, but the fool in the darkness is walking. But I myself know that one happening will happen to both of them.]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

הֶֽ⁠חָכָם֙ עֵינָ֣י⁠ו בְּ⁠רֹאשׁ֔⁠וֹ

the_wise,[person] eyes_of,his [are]_in,head_of,his

Solomon is speaking of the fool as if he were literally walking in darkness, unable to see where he is going. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly.