Prædikeren 4
1 Fremdeles saa jeg al den Undertrykkelse, som sker under Solen; jeg saa de undertryktes Taarer og ingen trøstede dem; de led Vold af deres Undertrykkeres Haand, og ingen 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 priste jeg de døde, som allerede er døde, lykkeligere end de levende, som endnu er 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 lykkeligere end begge den, som slet ikke er til, som ikke har set det onde, der sker 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, at al Flid og alt dygtigt Arbejde udspringer af den enes Misundelse mod den anden. Ogsaa det er Tomhed og Jag efter Vind.
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 Hænderne i Skødet og æder sig selv op.
Fools fold their arms and do nothing—so in the end they're all used up.
6 Bedre en Haandfuld Hvile end Hænderne fulde af Flid og Jag efter Vind.
It's better to earn a little without stress than a lot with too much stress and chasing after the wind.
7 Og mere Tomhed saa jeg under Solen.
Then I turned to consider something else here on earth that is also frustratingly hard to understand.
8 Mangen staar alene og har ikke nogen ved sin Side, hverken Søn eller Broder, og dog er der ingen Ende paa al hans Flid og hans Øje bliver ikke mæt af Rigdom. Men, for hvis Skyld gør jeg mig Flid og nægter mig enhver Nydelse? Ogsaa det, er Tomhed og ondt Slid.
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 To er bedre faren end een, thi de faar god Løn for deres Flid;
Two are better than one, for they can help each other in their work.
10 hvis den ene falder, kan den anden rejse sin Fælle op. Men ve den ensomme! Thi falder han, er der ingen til at rejse ham op.
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 Og naar to ligger sammen, bliver de varme; men hvorledes kan den ensomme 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 naar nogen kan overvælde den ensomme, saa kan to staa sig imod ham; tretvundet Snor brister ikke i Hast.
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 en fattig Yngling, som er viis, end en gammel Konge, som er en Taabe og ikke mere har Forstand til at lade sig raade.
A poor young person who's wise is better than an old and foolish king who no longer accepts advice.
14 Thi hin gik ud af Fængselet for at blive Konge, skønt han var født i Fattigdom under den andens Regering.
He may even come out of prison to reign over his kingdom, even though he was born poor.
15 Jeg saa alle, som levede og færdedes under Solen, stille sig ved den Ynglings Side, som skulde træde i Kongens Sted;
I observed everyone here on earth following the youth who takes his place.
16 der var ikke Tal paa alle de Mennesker, han stod i Spidsen for; men heller ikke over ham glæder de senere Slægter sig; nej, ogsaa det er Tomhed og Jag efter Vind.
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.
