All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.
I have seen all of this and carefully considered every kind of work that happens in this world. There are times when one person has power over another, and it ends up harming the one in charge.
The writer is observing that those who rule over others sometimes end up hurting themselves in the process.
📚 Historical Context
This verse comes from Ecclesiastes, traditionally attributed to King Solomon, who had extensive experience with power and governance. As someone who ruled over Israel at its height, Solomon would have witnessed firsthand how the burden of authority and the corruption that can come with power often damages the ruler themselves. The phrase 'under the sun' is characteristic of Ecclesiastes and refers to earthly, temporal existence.
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