37 Heb “there is.” The term יֵשׁ (yesh, “there is”) is often used in aphorisms to assert the existence of a particular situation that occurs sometimes. It may indicate that the situation is not the rule but that it does occur on occasion, and may be nuanced “sometimes” (e.g., Prov 11:24; 13:7, 23; 14:12; 16:25; 18:24; 20:15; Eccl 2:21; 4:8; 5:12; 6:1; 7:15 [2×]; 8:14 [3×]).
38 The noun רָעָה (ra’ah, “evil”) probably means “misfortune” ( רָעָה 4) or “injustice, wrong” ( רָעָה 2.b). The phrase רָעָה רַבָּה (ra’ah rabbah) connotes “grave injustice” or “great misfortune” (Eccl 2:17; 5:12, 15; 6:1; 10:5).
39 Heb “under the sun.”
40 Or “through a bad business deal.” The basic meaning of עִנְיַן (’inyan) is “business; affair” ( עִנְיָן) or “occupation; task” ( 775 עִנְיָן). The term is used in a specific sense in reference to business activity (Eccl 8:16), as well as in a more general sense in reference to events that occur on earth (Eccl 1:13; 4:8). suggests that the phrase עִנְיַן רָע (’inyan ra’) in 5:13 refers to a bad business deal ( 775 עִנְיָן); however, suggests that it means “bad luck” ( עִנְיָן). The English versions reflect the same two approaches: (1) bad luck: “some misfortune” (, ) and (2) a bad business deal: “a bad investment” (), “a bad venture” (, , ), “some unlucky venture” (, ), “an unlucky venture” (), “an evil adventure” ().
41 Heb “there is nothing in his hand.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:

wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners,

or wealth lost through some misfortune,

so that when they have children

there is nothing left for them to inherit.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

There is a sickening tragedy I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm. That wealth was lost in a bad venture, so when he fathered a son, he was empty-handed.

NLTNew Living Translation

There is another serious problem I have seen under the sun. Hoarding riches harms the saver. Money is put into risky investments that turn sour, and everything is lost. In the end, there is nothing left to pass on to one’s children.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth hoarded by its owner to his harm. That wealth was lost in a bad venture. Although he has borne a child, he has nothing to leave to him.

KJV 1900King James Version

There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

Public Domain