Prædikeren 1
1 Ord af Prædikeren, Davids Søn, Kongen i Jerusalem.
The words of Ecclesiastes, the son of David, the king of Jerusalem.
2 Forfængeligheders Forfængelighed! sagde Prædikeren, Forfængeligheders Forfængelighed, alt sammen Forfængelighed.
Ecclesiastes said: Vanity of vanities! Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity!
3 Hvad Fordel har Mennesket af al sin Møje, som han plager sig med under Solen?
What more does a man have from all his labor, as he labors under the sun?
4 En Slægt gaar, og en Slægt kommer; men Jorden staar evindelig.
A generation passes away, and a generation arrives. But the earth stands forever.
5 Og Solen gaar op, og Solen gaar ned, og den higer hen til sit Sted, hvor den gaar op.
The sun rises and sets; it returns to its place, and from there, being born again,
6 Vinden gaar imod Sønden og drejer sig om imod Norden; den gaar frem, idet den vedbliver at dreje sig om, og til sine Kredse kommer Vinden tilbage.
it circles through the south, and arcs toward the north. The spirit continues on, illuminating everything in its circuit, and turning again in its cycle.
7 Alle Bække løbe i Havet, og Havet bliver ikke fuldt; til det Sted, fra hvilket Floderne løbe, derhen komme de tilbage for at løbe.
All rivers enter into the sea, and the sea does not overflow. To the place from which the rivers go out, they return, so that they may flow again.
8 Alt hvad man kunde nævne herom, vilde blive mat, ingen kunde udsige det; Øjet mættes ej af at se, og Øret fyldes ej af at høre.
Such things are difficult; man is not able to explain them with words. The eye is not satisfied by seeing, nor is the ear fulfilled by hearing.
9 Hvad som var, det samme skal vorde, og hvad som er sket, det samme skal ske; og der er slet intet nyt under Solen.
What is it that has existed? The same shall exist in the future. What is it that has been done? The same shall continue to be done.
10 Er der noget, om hvilket man kan sige: Se, dette er nyt? Det var allerede i de forrige Tider, som have været før os.
There is nothing new under the sun. Neither is anyone able to say: “Behold, this is new!” For it has already been brought forth in the ages that were before us.
11 Der er ingen Ihukommelse om de tidligere; og om de efterfølgende, som skulle komme, om dem skal der heller ikke være nogen Ihukommelse hos dem, som skulle være herefter.
There is no remembrance of the former things. Indeed, neither shall there be any record of past things in the future, for those who will exist at the very end.
12 Jeg, Prædikeren, jeg var Konge over Israel i Jerusalem.
I, Ecclesiastes, was king of Israel at Jerusalem.
13 Og jeg gav mit Hjerte hen til at ransage og til med Visdom at udforske alt det, som sker under Himmelen; det er en slem Plage, som Gud har givet Menneskens Børn at plage sig med.
And I was determined in my mind to seek and to investigate wisely, concerning all that is done under the sun. God has given this very difficult task to the sons of men, so that they may be occupied by it.
14 Jeg saa alle de Gerninger, som ere gjorte under Solen, og se, det var alt Forfængelighed og Aandsfortærelse.
I have seen all that is done under the sun, and behold: all is emptiness and an affliction of the spirit.
15 Kroget kan ikke vorde ret, og Brøst kunne ikke tælles.
The perverse are unwilling to be corrected, and the number of the foolish is boundless.
16 Jeg talte med mit Hjerte og sagde: Jeg, se, jeg er bleven stor og er gaaet frem i Visdom mere end alle de, som have været før mig i Jerusalem; og mit Hjerte har set megen Visdom og Kundskab.
I have spoken in my heart, saying: “Behold, I have achieved greatness, and I have surpassed all the wise who were before me in Jerusalem.” And my mind has contemplated many things wisely, and I have learned.
17 Og jeg gav mit Hjerte hen til at forstaa Visdom og til at forstaa Galskab og Daarskab; jeg fornam, at ogsaa dette var Aandsfortærelse.
And I have dedicated my heart, so that I may know prudence and doctrine, and also error and foolishness. Yet I recognize that, in these things also, there is hardship, and affliction of the spirit.
18 Thi hvor megen Visdom er, der er megen Græmmelse; og den, som forøger sin Kundskab, forøger sin Smerte.
Because of this, with much wisdom there is also much anger. And whoever adds knowledge, also adds hardship.
