KJV ORIGINAL
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
There is a terrible problem that I have observed in this world, and it happens to many people:
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
The writer is introducing a troubling pattern he's noticed that affects many people's lives.
📚 Historical Context
This verse opens a new section where the Teacher (traditionally Solomon) begins describing another frustrating aspect of life he's observed. In ancient Israel, wisdom teachers would often present observations about life's inequities and paradoxes to help people understand the complexities of human existence. The phrase 'under the sun' is used throughout Ecclesiastes to refer to earthly life from a human perspective.
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