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.
So I turned and considered all the oppressions that are wrought vnder the sunne, and beholde the teares of the oppressed, and none comforteth them: and lo, the strength is of the hand of them that oppresse them, and none comforteth them.
2 Da priste jeg de døde, som allerede er døde, lykkeligere end de levende, som endnu er i Live;
Wherefore I praysed the dead which now are dead, aboue the liuing, which are yet aliue.
3 men lykkeligere end begge den, som slet ikke er til, som ikke har set det onde, der sker under Solen.
And I count him better then them both, which hath not yet bin: for he hath not seene the euill workes which are wrought vnder the sunne.
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.
Also I beheld all trauaile, and all perfection of workes that this is ye enuie of a man against his neighbour: this also is vanitie and vexation of spirit.
5 Daaren lægger Hænderne i Skødet og æder sig selv op.
The foole foldeth his hands, and eateth vp his owne flesh.
6 Bedre en Haandfuld Hvile end Hænderne fulde af Flid og Jag efter Vind.
Better is an handfull with quietnesse, then two handfuls with labour and vexation of spirit.
7 Og mere Tomhed saa jeg under Solen.
Againe I returned, and sawe vanitie vnder the sunne.
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.
There is one alone, and there is not a second, which hath neither sonne nor brother, yet is there none end of all his trauaile, neither can his eye be satisfied with riches: neither doeth he thinke, For whome doe I trauaile and defraude my soule of pleasure? this also is vanitie, and this is an euill trauaile.
9 To er bedre faren end een, thi de faar god Løn for deres Flid;
Two are better then one: for they haue better wages for their labour.
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.
For if they fal, the one wil lift vp his felow: but wo vnto him that is alone: for he falleth, and there is not a second to lift him vp.
11 Og naar to ligger sammen, bliver de varme; men hvorledes kan den ensomme blive varm?
Also if two sleepe together, then shall they haue heate: but to one how should there be heate?
12 Og naar nogen kan overvælde den ensomme, saa kan to staa sig imod ham; tretvundet Snor brister ikke i Hast.
And if one ouercome him, two shall stand against him: and a threefolde coard is not easily broken.
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.
Better is a poore and wise childe, then an olde and foolish King, which will no more be admonished.
14 Thi hin gik ud af Fængselet for at blive Konge, skønt han var født i Fattigdom under den andens Regering.
For out of the prison he commeth forth to reigne: when as he that is borne in his kingdome, is made poore.
15 Jeg saa alle, som levede og færdedes under Solen, stille sig ved den Ynglings Side, som skulde træde i Kongens Sted;
I behelde all the liuing, which walke vnder the sunne, with the second childe, which shall stand vp in 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.
There is none ende of all the people, nor of all that were before them, and they that come after, shall not reioyce in him: surely this is also vanitie and vexation of spirit.
