< Prædikeren 11 >
1 Kast dit Brød på Vandet, Thi du får det igen, går end lang Tid hen.
Cast your bread on the waters; for you shall find it after many days.
2 Del dit Gods i syv otte Dele, thi du ved ej, hvad ondt der kanske på Jorden.
Give a portion to seven, yes, even to eight; for you don’t know what evil will be on the earth.
3 Er Skyerne fulde af Regn, så gyder de den ud over Jorden; og falder et Træ mod Syd eller Nord; så bliver det liggende der, hvor det falder.
If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth; and if a tree falls toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there shall it be.
4 Man får aldrig sået, når man kigger efter Vinden, og aldrig høstet, når man ser efter Skyerne.
He who observes the wind won’t sow; and he who regards the clouds won’t reap.
5 Som du ikke kender Vindens Vej eller Fostret i Moders Liv, så kender du ej heller Guds Virke, han, som virker alt.
As you don’t know what is the way of the wind, nor how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child; even so you don’t know the work of God who does all.
6 Så din Sæd ved Gry og lad Hånden ej hvile ved Kvæld; thi du ved ej, om dette eller hint vil lykkes, eller begge Dele er lige gode.
In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening don’t withhold your hand; for you don’t know which will prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both will be equally good.
7 Lyset er lifligt, at skue Solen er godt for Øjnene;
Truly the light is sweet, and it is a pleasant thing for the eyes to see the sun.
8 ja, lever et Menneske mange År, skal han glæde sig over dem alle og komme Mørkets Dage i Hu, thi af dem er der mange i Vente; alt, hvad der kommer, er Tomhed.
Yes, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity.
9 Glæd dig, Yngling, i din Ungdom, vær vel til Mode i Livets Vår; gå, hvor dit Hjerte lyster, og nyd, hvad dit Øje skuer; men vid, at for alle disse Ting skal du kræves til Regnskab af Gud.
Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
10 Slå Mismod ud af dit Sind, hold Sygdom fjernt fra din Krop; thi Ungdom og Livsgry er Tomhed!
Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.