(5.) =There exists an evil= (notice abstract with its shade of meaning, which) =I have seen under the sun, like that which is erroneous= (שגגה, see chapter v. 5 (6), ‘an inadvertence’), =which goes out= (the verb has the contract-relative joined with it; the exact idea is that it is like an inadvertence, such as might go out on the part of the ruler’s command, the great Ruler being in the mind of the writer, but the proposition is general) =from the face of the caused to have power= (a ‘providential mistake,’ then). 6 Folly is set ¹in great │ viz., the setting of false dignity, and the rich sit in │ wisdom in high places, and the low place. │ rich sit in low estate. │ ¹ _Hebrew_ in great heights. │ (6.) =Set= (that is, the ruler does this, but, as usual, this is not expressed when the proposition is intended to have a general bearing) =the perverse fool= (generic――‘perverse folly’ then will be a good rendering) =in high places many a one, and the rich= (but the hiphil form is worthy of remark, ‘persons that make rich’) =in a low place= (‎‏שֵפֶל occurs so punctuated at Psalms cxxxvi. 23 only, rendered ‘low estate’) =sit.= 7 I have seen servants upon │ I have seen serfs on horseback, horses, and princes walking as │ and princes walking like serfs servants upon the earth. │ afoot. (7.) =I have observed servants= (slaves, that is, who ought to serve) =upon horseback, and princes walking as servants= (‘ought to do’ is no doubt involved in this expression――‘servants’ repeated being emphatic) =upon the earth= (_i.e._ afoot). 8 He that diggeth a pit │ One digs a pit, into _that_ he shall fall into it; and whoso │ falls: or breaks a hedge, gets breaketh an hedge, a serpent │ bitten by a serpent. shall bite him. │ (8.) =Dig= (not necessarily either a participle or an imperative) =a pitfall= (גומץ occurs here only, and is said to be a late word; it occurs in Arabic and Syriac. That a ‘pitfall’ is meant is evident from the context), =in it= (emphatic) =he falls= (a sinister intent in digging this pit is not necessarily implied, but the context shows that such is primarily aimed at: this is the more evident when we recollect that חָפַר is to ‘dig,’ and ♦חָפֵר ‘to bring to confusion’); =and break a wall= (_i.e._ an enclosure, see Job xix. 8 for the precise meaning of the root, hence also Numbers xxii. 24), =bites him a serpent= (as we say, ‘gets bitten by a serpent,’ which would naturally lurk in loose stone walls). ♦ “חָפֵד” replaced with “חָפֵר” 9 Whoso removeth stones │ Moves stones, and finds them shall be hurt therewith; _and_ │ in his way: chops wood, must he that cleaveth wood shall be │ be careful with it. endangered thereby. │