OET interlinear ECC 3:19

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

מִקְרֶ֨ה

fate

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

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

בְֽנֵי־הָ⁠אָדָ֜ם

sons_of the=humankind

See how you translated the similar expression in [3:18](../03/18.md).

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

כְּ⁠מ֥וֹת

like,the_death_of

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of death, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [dying]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

וּ⁠מוֹתַ֨ר

and,the_advantage_of

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of advantage, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [way that humanity is better than the animal]

Note 5 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

כִּי֩ מִקְרֶ֨ה בְֽנֵי־הָ⁠אָדָ֜ם וּ⁠מִקְרֶ֣ה הַ⁠בְּהֵמָ֗ה וּ⁠מִקְרֶ֤ה אֶחָד֙ לָ⁠הֶ֔ם כְּ⁠מ֥וֹת זֶה֙ כֵּ֣ן מ֣וֹת זֶ֔ה וְ⁠ר֥וּחַ אֶחָ֖ד לַ⁠כֹּ֑ל וּ⁠מוֹתַ֨ר הָ⁠אָדָ֤ם מִן־הַ⁠בְּהֵמָה֙ אָ֔יִן כִּ֥י הַ⁠כֹּ֖ל הָֽבֶל

that/for/because/then/when fate sons_of the=humankind and,the_fate the=cattle/livestock and,fate one(ms) to/for=them like,the_death_of this yes/correct/thus/so to_die this and=spirit one(ms) [belongs]_to,all and,the_advantage_of the=humankind from/more_than the=cattle/livestock no that/for/because/then/when (the),everything Abel

Solomon uses the word But here to indicate a contrast between the fact that humans and animals die the same way and the expectation that humanity would have an advantage. In your translation, indicate this contrast in a way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [For the happening of the sons of humanity and the happening of the animal—and one happening is for them. As the death of this one, so the death of this one, and one spirit exists for both. But humanity has no advantage over the animal, for everything is vapor.]

Note 6 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

כִּי֩ מִקְרֶ֨ה בְֽנֵי־הָ⁠אָדָ֜ם וּ⁠מִקְרֶ֣ה הַ⁠בְּהֵמָ֗ה וּ⁠מִקְרֶ֤ה אֶחָד֙ לָ⁠הֶ֔ם כְּ⁠מ֥וֹת זֶה֙ כֵּ֣ן מ֣וֹת זֶ֔ה וְ⁠ר֥וּחַ אֶחָ֖ד לַ⁠כֹּ֑ל וּ⁠מוֹתַ֨ר הָ⁠אָדָ֤ם מִן־הַ⁠בְּהֵמָה֙ אָ֔יִן כִּ֥י הַ⁠כֹּ֖ל הָֽבֶל

that/for/because/then/when fate sons_of the=humankind and,the_fate the=cattle/livestock and,fate one(ms) to/for=them like,the_death_of this yes/correct/thus/so to_die this and=spirit one(ms) [belongs]_to,all and,the_advantage_of the=humankind from/more_than the=cattle/livestock no that/for/because/then/when (the),everything Abel

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 the happening of the sons of humanity and the happening of the animal—and one happening is for them. As the death of this one, so the death of this one, and one spirit exists for both. But an advantage of humanity over the animal, there is none, for everything is vapor.]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

כְּ⁠מ֥וֹת זֶה֙ כֵּ֣ן מ֣וֹת זֶ֔ה

like,the_death_of this yes/correct/thus/so to_die this

The point of this comparison is that just as the death of this one is certain and unavoidable, so is the death of this one. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this point explicitly.

Note 8 topic: writing-pronouns

כְּ⁠מ֥וֹת זֶה֙ כֵּ֣ן מ֣וֹת זֶ֔ה

like,the_death_of this yes/correct/thus/so to_die this

The first use of the pronoun this one refers to a human being, and the second use refers to an animal. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers.

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

הַ⁠כֹּ֖ל הָֽבֶל

(the),everything Abel

Here Solomon is speaking as if life were vapor. He means that life is fleeting and insubstantial. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [everything is fleeting and without substance]