OET interlinear ECC 2:26

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

חָכְמָ֥ה וְ⁠דַ֖עַת וְ⁠שִׂמְחָ֑ה

wisdom and,knowledge and,joy

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of wisdom and knowledge and joy, you could express the same ideas in other ways. Alternate translation: [him the ability to be wise, to know things, and to rejoice]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

לֶ⁠אֱס֣וֹף וְ⁠לִ⁠כְנ֗וֹס

to,gather and,to,gather

The terms gathering and collecting mean similar things. Solomon is using the two terms together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: [the business of accumulating and storing up wealth]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י הָֽ⁠אֱלֹהִ֔ים

to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before the=ʼElohīm

Solomon is using the possessive form to describe the face as belonging to God, indicating God’s presence and approval. If a speaker of your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could express this idea in another way. Alternate translation: [before God]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

וּ⁠רְע֥וּת רֽוּחַ

and,striving_of wind

See how you translated the similar expression in 2:11.

Note 5 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: [This is because to a person who is good to his face, he gives wisdom and knowledge and joy. But to the sinner, he gives the business of gathering and of collecting to give to the one who is good to the face of the God. Even this is vapor and pursuit of wind.]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

לְ⁠טוֹב֙ לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י הָֽ⁠אֱלֹהִ֔ים

to,a_[person]_good to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before the=ʼElohīm

Solomon is using good to the face of the God as a common expression of the culture to mean “pleasing to God.” If this phrase 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: [to the one whom God approves of]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

עִנְיָ֜ן לֶ⁠אֱס֣וֹף וְ⁠לִ⁠כְנ֗וֹס

task to,gather and,to,gather

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: [gathering and collecting]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

שֶׁ⁠טּ֣וֹב לְ⁠פָנָ֔י⁠ו

who_[is],good before,,him

Solomon is using good to his face as a common expression of the culture to mean “pleasing in his sight.” If this phrase 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: [who is pleasing in his sight]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

גַּם־זֶ֥ה הֶ֖בֶל

also/yet this Abel

Solomon is speaking as if the futility and transience of the unequal outcomes for the righteous and the sinner 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: [Even this is emptiness]