Prædikeren 4
1 Fremdeles så jeg al den Undertrykkelse, som sker under Solen; jeg så de undertryktes tårer og ingen trøstede dem; de led Vold af deres Undertrykkeres Hånd, og ingen trøstede dem.
And I have turned, and I see all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and behold, the tear of the oppressed, and they have no comforter; and at the hand of their oppressors [is] power, and they have no comforter.
2 Da priste jeg de døde, som allerede er døde, lykkeligere end de levende, som endnu er i Live;
And I am praising the dead who have already died above the living who are yet alive.
3 men lykkeligere end begge den, som slet ikke er til, som ikke har set det onde, der sker under Solen.
And better than both of them [is] he who has not yet been, in that he has not seen the evil work that has been done under the sun.
4 Og jeg så, at al Flid og alt dygtigt Arbejde udspringer af den enes Misundelse mod den anden. Også det er Tomhed og Jag efter Vind.
And I have seen all the labor, and all the benefit of the work, because for it a man is the envy of his neighbor. Even this [is] vanity and distress of spirit.
5 Dåren lægger Hænderne i Skødet og æder sig selv op
The fool is clasping his hands, and eating his own flesh:
6 Bedre en Håndfuld Hvile end Hænderne fulde af Flid og Jag efter Vind.
“Better [is] a handful [with] quietness, than two handfuls [with] labor and distress of spirit.”
7 Og mere Tomhed så jeg under Solen.
And I have turned, and I see a vain thing under the sun:
8 Mangen står alene og har ikke nogen ved sin Side, hverken Søn eller Broder, og dog er der ingen Ende på al hans Flid og hans Øje bliver ikke mæt af Rigdom. Men, for hvis Skyld gør jeg mig Flid og nægter mig enhver Nydelse? Også det, er Tomhed og ondt Slid.
There is one, and there is not a second; even son or brother he has not, and there is no end to all his labor! His eye also is not satisfied with riches, and [he does not say], “For whom am I laboring and bereaving my soul of good?” This also is vanity, it is a sad travail.
9 To er bedre faren end een, thi de får god Løn for deres Flid;
The two [are] better than the one, in that they have a good reward by their labor.
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 fall, the one raises up his companion, but woe to the one who falls and there is not a second to raise him up!
11 Og når to ligger sammen, bliver de varme; men hvorledes kan den ensomme blive varm?
Also, if two lie down, then they have heat, but how has one heat?
12 Og når nogen kan overvælde den ensomme, så kan to stå sig imod ham; tretvundet Snor brister ikke i Hast.
And if the one strengthens himself, the two stand against him; and the threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13 Bedre faren er en fattig Yngling, som er viis, end en gammel Konge, som er en Tåbe og ikke mere har Forstand til at lade sig råde.
Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who has not known to be warned anymore.
14 Thi hin gik ud af Fængselet for at blive Konge, skønt han var født i Fattigdom under den andens Regering.
For from a house of prisoners he has come out to reign, for even in his own kingdom he has been poor.
15 Jeg så alle, som levede og færdedes under Solen, stille sig ved den Ynglings Side, som skulde træde i Kongens Sted;
I have seen all the living, who are walking under the sun, with the second youth who stands in his place;
16 der var ikke Tal på alle de Mennesker, han stod i Spidsen for; men heller ikke over ham glæder de senere Slægter sig; nej, også det er Tomhed og Jag efter Vind.
there is no end to all the people, to all who were before them; also, the latter do not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and distress of spirit.
