Prædikeren 4
1 Og jeg vendte tilbage og saa alle de undertrykte, som ilde medhandles under Solen; og se, de undertryktes Taarer, og der var ingen, som trøstede dem, og fra deres Undertrykkeres Haand udgik Vold; derimod havde de ingen, som trøstede dem.
Then I turned to consider all the ways people oppress others here on earth. Look at the tears of the oppressed—there's no one to comfort them! Powerful people oppress them, and there's no one to comfort them!
2 Da prisede jeg de døde, som alt vare døde, fremfor de levende, som endnu ere i Live;
I congratulated those who were already dead, for the dead are better off than those who are still alive and being oppressed.
3 men lykkelig fremfor begge dog den, som endnu ikke har været til, som ikke har set den onde Gerning, der gøres under Solen.
But best of all are those who have never existed—they haven't seen the evil things people do to each other here on earth.
4 Og jeg saa alt Arbejde og al Dygtighed i Gerningen, at det paadrog en Mand Misundelse af hans Næste; ogsaa dette er Forfængelighed og Aandsfortærelse.
I observed that every skill in work comes from competition with others. Once again this is hard to understand, like trying to hold on to the elusive wind.
5 Daaren lægger sine Hænder sammen og fortærer sit eget Kød.
Fools fold their arms and do nothing—so in the end they're all used up.
6 En Haandfuld med Ro er bedre end begge Næver fulde med Møje og Aandsfortærelse.
It's better to earn a little without stress than a lot with too much stress and chasing after the wind.
7 Og jeg vendte tilbage og saa Forfængelighed under Solen:
Then I turned to consider something else here on earth that is also frustratingly hard to understand.
8 Der er den, som er ene og ikke har nogen anden og har hverken Søn eller Broder; dog er der ingen Ende paa alt hans Arbejde, og hans Øjne mættes ikke af Rigdom; — og: „For hvem arbejder jeg og lader min Sjæl fattes det gode‟? ogsaa dette er Forfængelighed og en slem Møje.
What about someone who has no family to help him, no brother or son, who works all the time, but isn't satisfied with the money he makes. “Who am I working for?” he asks himself. “Why am I preventing myself from enjoying life?” Such a situation is hard to explain—it's an evil business!
9 Bedre to end een; thi de have en god Løn for deres Arbejde.
Two are better than one, for they can help each other in their work.
10 Thi dersom de falde, kan den ene oprejse sin Stalbroder, men ve den, som er ene; naar han falder, er der ingen anden til at oprejse ham.
If one of them falls down, the other can help them up, but how sad it is for someone who falls down and doesn't have anyone to help them up.
11 Ogsaa naar to ligge sammen, da have de Varme; men hvorledes kan en alene blive varm?
In the same way, if two people lie down together, they keep each other warm, but you can't keep yourself warm if you're alone.
12 Og om nogen vilde overvælde ham, som er ene, kunde to staa ham imod; og den tredobbelte Traad sønderrives ikke saa snart.
Someone fighting against one other person may win, but not if they are fighting against two. A cord made of three strands can't be torn apart quickly.
13 Bedre faren er et ungt Menneske, som er viist, end en gammel Konge, som er en Daare, og som endnu ikke ved at lade sig advare.
A poor young person who's wise is better than an old and foolish king who no longer accepts advice.
14 Thi af Fangehuset udgik hin for at blive Konge, medens den, som var født i sit Kongerige, blev fattig.
He may even come out of prison to reign over his kingdom, even though he was born poor.
15 Jeg saa alle dem, som leve, som vandre under Solen, at holde sig til det andet unge Menneske, der indtager hans Sted.
I observed everyone here on earth following the youth who takes his place.
16 Der var ikke Ende paa alt det Folk, paa alt det, som han gik i Spidsen for, dog skulle Efterkommerne ikke glædes over ham: Thi ogsaa dette er Forfængelighed og Aandsfortærelse.
He is surrounded by crowds of supporters, but the next generation isn't happy with him. This also illustrates the passing nature of life whose meaning is elusive, like pursuing the wind for understanding.
