In this video, I talk about the benefits of my approach of "hyper-literal" translations, which attempt to keep intact much of the word order and the original grammar of the original source language while still presenting something interpretable to English-language speakers.
I pay particular attention here to way different translations chose to translate Chapter 3 Line 6 of Kohelet. In it, I find that many of the translations translate the words in a way to obscure the romantic implications that are more clear in the original. I end the video with a call to peace among all peoples.
Ecclesiastes (or Koholet) tells the story of King Solomon as he enters old age and reflects on all the endeavors of his life, slowly coming to terms with the meaningless of all things. There are no easy religious answers it tries to present. It’s a true work of art in how its greatest offerings to us are questions, not answers.
Although this is not a spritual exercise for me, I come with a deep reverence for the source text as a beautiful piece of historic world poetry.
I’ve remarked to my friends on a few occasions that I sometimes think of my life before Ecclesiastes and my life after Ecclesiastes. There are whole categories all of my past behaviour that I remember from time to time and then think to myself, “It’s alright. That was before I read Ecclesiastes.”
I think the only other book I can saw that about with as much confidence is Tirukurral.
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