(2.) =The whole= (but all the ancient versions read here הבל, ‘_vanity_,’ and this makes better sense; the error, for such we believe it to be, in the Masoretic text, was one so likely to occur, that, considering the strong weight of testimony in favour of the LXX., and the far better sense it makes with the context, we may well adopt it. As an additional reason for following the LXX., we notice that the Syriac reads (‡ Syriac phrase) ‘all that is before him is vanity, all just as that which is to all,’ combining, therefore, both readings together. Thus it appears that the variation in the texts was a very ancient one. If this reading be adopted, then combining it with the words which follow) =as= (or like this same) =to all= (the meaning will be ‘transitoriness is exactly the same to all,’ or ‘all alike are equally transitory.’ If, however, we retain the Masoretic text and pointing, a good sense is made. ‘_The whole_ is as it were to all,’ namely) =a happening= which is =one to the righteous, and to the impious, to the good= (the LXX. add here _to the bad_), =to the clean, and to the unclean, to the sacrificer, and to one who has not sacrificed; as is the good so the sinner= (but general, including things as well as persons), =the forsworn as one who an oath fears.= 3 This _is_ an evil among │ This evil is in all which is all _things_ that are done │ performed in this work-day under the sun, that _there is_ │ world: that there is but one one event unto all: yea, also │ event to all, and so the heart the heart of the sons of men │ of the human race overflows is full of evil, and madness │ with wrong, and foolish _is_ in their heart while they │ anticipations are in their live, and after that _they go_ │ inmost hearts while they live, to the dead. │ and what succeeds――it belongs │ to the _dead_. (3.) =This wrong= is _in all which is done_ (niphal, and therefore objective; men both do and suffer as though this were so) = under the sun, how a happening= which is =one= (_i.e._ the same) =to all= (the force of this reasoning is made apparent by what follows, as there is no visible reward to these righteous persons as compared with the wicked, wicked men presume); =and moreover, the heart of the sons of Adam is full of= (‘overflows with’ would represent the idea) =evil, and false expectations= (הוללות occurs chapter i. 17――see references; the meaning deduced exactly suits this passage; it is the false hope begotten of an evil action, a crime worse than a blunder, to invert a celebrated aphorism) =in their hearts= (לבב is ‘the inmost heart’――see Concordance, _sub voce_, for the shade of difference between לב and ‎‏לבב), =in their lives, and their future= (_i.e._ what comes afterwards) =belongs to= (the preposition is אל, which the LXX. note, and render by πρὸς) =the dead= (generic, with the article).