OET interlinear ECC 4:8

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

גַּ֣ם בֵּ֧ן וָ⁠אָ֣ח אֵֽין ל֗⁠וֹ

also/yet son and,a_brother not to=him/it

Solomon is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: [he does not even have a son or a brother]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

עֲמָל֔⁠וֹ

toil_of,his

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

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

עֵינ֖וֹ לֹא תִשְׂבַּ֣ע

(Some words not found in UHB: there_was one(ms) and,there_[was]_not second also/yet son and,a_brother not to=him/it and,there_[was]_not extremity/end_of to/from=all/each/any/every toil_of,his also/yet עיני,ו not satisfied riches and,for,whom? I toiling and,depriving DOM self_of,my from,good also/yet this Abel and_[is],a_business unhappy he/it )

Here, his eye represents his desire or appetite. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [he is never satisfied]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

עֹ֑שֶׁר

riches

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

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

אֶת נַפְשִׁ⁠י֙

DOM self_of,my

Here, my soul represents the person himself. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [myself]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

הֶ֛בֶל

Abel

Solomon is speaking as if this situation were vapor. He means that it 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: [fleeting and insubstantial]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

וּ⁠לְ⁠מִ֣י אֲנִ֣י עָמֵ֗ל וּ⁠מְחַסֵּ֤ר אֶת נַפְשִׁ⁠י֙ מִ⁠טּוֹבָ֔ה

and,for,whom? I toiling and,depriving DOM self_of,my from,good

The lonely person is using the question form to emphasize that there is no good reason for his solitary toil. 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. Alternate translation: [So there is no reason for me to toil and cause my soul to lack from good things.]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

וְ⁠עִנְיַ֥ן רָ֖ע הֽוּא

and_[is],a_business unhappy he/it

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: [and it is unpleasant to deal with]

Note 9 topic: writing-pronouns

וּ⁠לְ⁠מִ֣י אֲנִ֣י עָמֵ֗ל

and,for,whom? I toiling

The pronoun I refers to the solitary person described in this verse. Solomon shifts to the first person to express what this person would say to himself. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: [So this person asks himself, why am I toiling]