Translations
F.O.G.MPrimary
F.O.G MessageI saw that all the living who walk under the sun were rallying behind the second young man—the one destined to stand in his place.
F.O.GSecondary
The F.O.GI saw all the living who walk under the sun following the second youth—the one who stands in his place.
KJV
King James VersionI considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
BSB
Berean Standard BibleI saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed this second one, the youth who succeeded the king.
Footnotes
הַיֶּלֶד הַשֵּׁנִי (hayeled hasheni)—"the second youth"—most likely refers not to the original wise youth of v.13 but to his own eventual successor: the cycle repeats. The formerly-imprisoned wise youth has now become king, and already the crowd has transferred its adulation to a rising replacement. Qohelet's point is the inexorable rhythm of political enthusiasm; every celebrated successor becomes yesterday's king in turn.
