The fact that this book happens to be a book of which there is a copy in every hotel room makes it a bit paradoxical.
The fact that this book is the scripture for a religion which considers usury a capital sin makes it the best example of artificial scarcity i can think of.
On the other hand, it's hard to argue that Bible publishers' spammy newsletters and aggressive copyright protection amount to much more than Simony.
The idea that people wish to be compensated for spiritual effort is perfectly capitalist. I may need to take a look. But if the tone of the ESV resembles the NIV, the ESV may be lacking bass in the mix for my taste.
You just can't improve on Ecclesiastes in the KJV:
"Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?"
"Siehe an die Werke Gottes; denn wer kann das schlicht machen, was er krümmt?"
"Aanmerk het werk Gods; want wie kan recht maken, dat Hij krom gemaakt heeft?"
"Regarde l'oeuvre de Dieu: qui pourra redresser ce qu'il a courbé?"
A better translation that will be more readily understood by readers of Dutch born in the last 70 years reads:
„Bezie het werk van God: wie maakt recht wat hij krom heeft gemaakt?”
I hope my point still stands, that what's important ultimately in Ecclesiastes is not so much any superficial style or dialect, but the substance being conveyed.
Of course, Ecclesiastes is full of beautiful poetry, and I appreciate it on that level, but the book is my favorite because of the ideas and lessons being taught, which I think transcend language and culture.
For Ecclesiastes 7:13, the ESV reads: “Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?” With the subjective exception of the word “for”, I would consider this an unqualified improvement on the KJV, inasmuch as it is modern English rather than what was already overly formal English 400 years ago.