OET interlinear ECC 5:16

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

רָעָ֣ה חוֹלָ֔ה

evil grievous

See how you translated the similar expression in [5:13](../05/13.md).

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

כָּ⁠ל עֻמַּ֥ת שֶׁ⁠בָּ֖א כֵּ֣ן יֵלֵ֑ךְ

as=to as_of (that)_he,came yes/correct/thus/so go

The point of this comparison is that just as he came into the world with nothing, so also he will go and leave the world with nothing. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this point explicitly. Alternate translation: [Just as he came into the world with nothing, he will go out of the world with nothing]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

כָּ⁠ל עֻמַּ֥ת שֶׁ⁠בָּ֖א כֵּ֣ן יֵלֵ֑ךְ

as=to as_of (that)_he,came yes/correct/thus/so go

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: [Just as he came into the world with nothing, so he will go out of it with nothing]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

שֶֽׁ⁠יַּעֲמֹ֖ל לָ⁠רֽוּחַ

(cmp)_he,will_toil for,wind

Here Solomon is speaking as if a person’s labor were directed toward the wind, something that cannot be grasped. He means that the effort is futile. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [who toils for nothing]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

וּ⁠מַה יִּתְר֣וֹן ל֔⁠וֹ שֶֽׁ⁠יַּעֲמֹ֖ל לָ⁠רֽוּחַ

and,what? gain to=him/it (cmp)_he,will_toil for,wind

Solomon is using the question form to emphasize that there is no profit for the person who toils. 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: [And there is no profit for him who toils for the wind.]