Prædikeren 6
1 Der er et Onde, jeg så under Solen, og som tynger Menneskene hårdt:
I have observed another evil here on earth, and it has a great impact on humanity.
2 Når Gud giver en Mand Rigdom og Gods og Ære, så han intet savner af, hvad han ønsker, og Gud ikke sætter ham i Stand til at nyde det, men en fremmed nyder det, da er dette Tomhed og en slem Lidelse.
God gives wealth, possessions, and honor to someone. They have everything they want. But God doesn't let them enjoy what they have. Instead somebody else does! This is hard to fathom, and is truly evil.
3 Om en Mand avler hundrede Børn og lever mange År, så hans Levetid bliver lang, men hans Sjæl ikke mættes af Goder, så siger jeg dog, at et utidigt Foster er bedre faren end han;
A man could have one hundred children, and grow old, but it wouldn't matter how long his life was if he couldn't enjoy it and at the end receive a decent burial. I would say that a stillborn child would be better off than him.
4 thi at det kommer, er Tomhed, og det går bort i Mørke, og i Mørke dølges dets Navn;
The way a stillborn child comes into the world and then leaves is painfully hard to understand—arriving and departing in darkness—and who he would have been is never known.
5 og det har hverken set eller kendt Sol; det får end ikke en Grav; det hviler bedre end han.
He never saw the light of day or knew what it was like to live. Yet the child finds rest, and not this man.
6 Om han så levede to Gange tusind År, men ikke skuede Lykke - mon ikke alle farer sammesteds hen?
Even if this man were to live a thousand years twice over he still wouldn't be happy. Don't we all end up in the same place—the grave?
7 Al Menneskets Flid tjener hans Mund, og dog stilles hans Sult aldrig.
Everyone works so they can live, but they're never satisfied.
8 Thi hvad har den vise forud for Tåben, hvad båder det den arme, der ved at vandre for de levendes Øjne?
So then, what real advantage do wise people have over those who are fools? And do poor people really gain anything in knowing how to behave in front of others?
9 Bedre at se med sine Øjne end higende Attrå. Også det er Tomhed og Jag efter Vind.
Be happy with what you have instead of running after what you don't! But this is also hard to do, like running after the wind.
10 Hvad der bliver til er for længst nævnet ved Navn, og det vides i Forvejen, hvad et Menneske bliver til; det kan ikke gå i Rette med ham, der er den stærkeste.
Everything that exists has already been described. Everyone knows what people are like, and that you can't win an argument with a superior.
11 Thi jo flere Ord der bruges, des større bliver Tomheden, og hvad gavner de Mennesket?
For the more words you use, the harder it is to make sense. So what's the point?
12 Thi hvo ved, hvad der båder et Menneske i Livet, det Tal af tomme Levedage han henlever som en Skygge? Thi hvo kan sige et Menneske, hvad der skal ske under Solen efter hans Død?
Who knows what's best for us and our lives? During our short lives that pass like shadows we have many unanswered questions. And who can tell us what will happen when we're gone?
