Prædikeren 6
1 Der er et Onde, jeg så under Solen, og som tynger Menneskene hårdt:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it lieth heavy upon men;
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.
a man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honor, and nothing is wanting to him of all which he desireth, yet God giveth him not to taste thereof; but a stranger enjoyeth it. This is vanity, yea, a grievous 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;
Though a man have a hundred children, and live many years, and though the days of his years be many, if his soul be not satisfied with good, and he have no burial, I say that an untimely birth is better than he.
4 thi at det kommer, er Tomhed, og det går bort i Mørke, og i Mørke dølges dets Navn;
This, indeed, cometh in nothingness, and goeth down into darkness, and its name is covered with darkness;
5 og det har hverken set eller kendt Sol; det får end ikke en Grav; det hviler bedre end han.
it hath not seen the sun, nor known it; yet hath it rest rather than the other.
6 Om han så levede to Gange tusind År, men ikke skuede Lykke - mon ikke alle farer sammesteds hen?
Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, and see no good, — do not all go to one place?
7 Al Menneskets Flid tjener hans Mund, og dog stilles hans Sult aldrig.
All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet his desires are not satisfied.
8 Thi hvad har den vise forud for Tåben, hvad båder det den arme, der ved at vandre for de levendes Øjne?
For what advantage hath the wise man over the fool? What advantage hath the poor, who knoweth how to walk before the living?
9 Bedre at se med sine Øjne end higende Attrå. Også det er Tomhed og Jag efter Vind.
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity, and striving after 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.
That which is was long ago called by name; and it was known that he is a man, and that he cannot contend with Him who is mightier than he.
11 Thi jo flere Ord der bruges, des større bliver Tomheden, og hvad gavner de Mennesket?
Seeing there are many things which increase vanity, what advantage hath man [[from them]]?
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?
For who knoweth what is good for man in life, in all the days of his vain life, which he spendeth as a shadow? For who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
