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 and saw all the oppressions which take place under the sun; and, behold, there were the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and from the hand of their oppressors there was violence, and they had no comforter.
2 Da prisede jeg de døde, som alt vare døde, fremfor de levende, som endnu ere i Live;
Therefore I praised the dead, who have been long ago dead, more than the living, who are yet alive.
3 men lykkelig fremfor begge dog den, som endnu ikke har været til, som ikke har set den onde Gerning, der gøres under Solen.
Yea, better than both of them is he who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work which is done under the sun.
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.
And I saw all labor, and all success in work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity, and striving after wind.
5 Daaren lægger sine Hænder sammen og fortærer sit eget Kød.
The fool foldeth his hands together and eateth his own flesh.
6 En Haandfuld med Ro er bedre end begge Næver fulde med Møje og Aandsfortærelse.
Better is a hand full of quietness, than both hands full of weariness and striving after wind.
7 Og jeg vendte tilbage og saa Forfængelighed under Solen:
Then I turned and saw other vanity under the sun.
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.
There is one who is alone, and no one with him; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end to all his labor, and his eye is not satisfied with riches. “For whom, then [[saith he]], do I labor and deprive myself of good?” This also is vanity; yea, it is an evil thing!
9 Bedre to end een; thi de have en god Løn for deres Arbejde.
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
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.
For if they fall, the one will lift his fellow up; but woe to him who is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to help him up!
11 Ogsaa naar to ligge sammen, da have de Varme; men hvorledes kan en alene blive varm?
Again, if two lie together, then they have heat; but how can one be warm alone?
12 Og om nogen vilde overvælde ham, som er ene, kunde to staa ham imod; og den tredobbelte Traad sønderrives ikke saa snart.
And if an enemy prevail against one, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
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.
Better is a child poor but wise, than a king old and foolish, who will no more be admonished.
14 Thi af Fangehuset udgik hin for at blive Konge, medens den, som var født i sit Kongerige, blev fattig.
For out of prison cometh forth such a one to reign; for in his own kingdom he was born a poor man.
15 Jeg saa alle dem, som leve, som vandre under Solen, at holde sig til det andet unge Menneske, der indtager hans Sted.
I saw that all the living, who walk under the sun, were with the child who stood up in his stead.
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.
There was no end to all the people before whom he went forth; yet they that come afterwards shall not rejoice in him. This also is vanity, and striving after wind.
