OET interlinear ECC 2:23

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

עִנְיָנ֔⁠וֹ

business_of,his

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of business, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [what he deals with]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

לֹא־שָׁכַ֣ב לִבּ֑⁠וֹ

not rest his/its=heart

Solomon is speaking of a person’s heart as if it were a living thing that could rest. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [he cannot stop thinking]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

The word translated as For indicates that what follows is a reason for what came before. Use a connector in your language that makes it clear that what follows is a reason for what came before. Alternate translation: [Because all his days are pains, and anger is his business; even in the night, his heart does not rest. Also this—it is vapor.]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וָ⁠כַ֨עַס֙ עִנְיָנ֔⁠וֹ

and_[is],vexation business_of,his

Solomon is speaking as if a person’s frustration were his business, that is, his constant occupation. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [and anger constantly occupies him]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

כָל־יָמָ֣י⁠ו מַכְאֹבִ֗ים

all his/its=days pain

Solomon says all his days are pains as a generalization for emphasis. He means that a person’s life is overwhelmingly filled with suffering. If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the emphasis in a different way. Alternate translation: [his days are nothing but pain]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

מַכְאֹבִ֗ים וָ⁠כַ֨עַס֙

pain and_[is],vexation

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of pains and anger, you could express the same ideas in other ways.

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

הֶ֥בֶל הֽוּא

Abel he/it

Solomon is speaking as if the futility and transience of a lifetime of painful toil 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 is fleeting and meaningless]