Ecclesiastes 4
1 So I returned, and saw all the oppressions that were done under the sun: and behold the tear of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of them that oppressed them was power; but they had no comforter:
Og jeg vendte tilbage og saa alle de undertrykte, som ilde medhandles under Solen; og se, de undertryktes Taarer, og der var ingen, som trøstede dem, og fra deres Undertrykkeres Haand udgik Vold; derimod havde de ingen, som trøstede dem.
2 and I praised all the dead that had already died more than the living, as many as are alive until now.
Da prisede jeg de døde, som alt vare døde, fremfor de levende, som endnu ere i Live;
3 Better also than both these is he who has not yet been, who has not seen all the evil work that is done under the sun.
men lykkelig fremfor begge dog den, som endnu ikke har været til, som ikke har set den onde Gerning, der gøres under Solen.
4 And I saw all labour, and all the diligent work, that this is a man's envy from his neighbour. This is also vanity and waywardness of spirit.
Og jeg saa alt Arbejde og al Dygtighed i Gerningen, at det paadrog en Mand Misundelse af hans Næste; ogsaa dette er Forfængelighed og Aandsfortærelse.
5 The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.
Daaren lægger sine Hænder sammen og fortærer sit eget Kød.
6 Better is a handful of rest than two handfuls of trouble and waywardness of spirit.
En Haandfuld med Ro er bedre end begge Næver fulde med Møje og Aandsfortærelse.
7 So I returned, and saw vanity under the sun.
Og jeg vendte tilbage og saa Forfængelighed under Solen:
8 There is one [alone], and there is not a second; yes, he has neither son nor brother: yet there is no end to all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with wealth; and for whom do I labour, and deprive my soul of good? this is also vanity, and an evil trouble.
Der er den, som er ene og ikke har nogen anden og har hverken Søn eller Broder; dog er der ingen Ende paa alt hans Arbejde, og hans Øjne mættes ikke af Rigdom; — og: „For hvem arbejder jeg og lader min Sjæl fattes det gode‟? ogsaa dette er Forfængelighed og en slem Møje.
9 Two [are] better than one, [seeing] they have a good reward for their labour.
Bedre to end een; thi de have en god Løn for deres Arbejde.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls, and there is not a second to lift him up.
Thi dersom de falde, kan den ene oprejse sin Stalbroder, men ve den, som er ene; naar han falder, er der ingen anden til at oprejse ham.
11 Also if two should lie together, they also get heat: but how shall one be warmed [alone?]
Ogsaa naar to ligge sammen, da have de Varme; men hvorledes kan en alene blive varm?
12 And if one should prevail against [him], the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord shall not be quickly broken.
Og om nogen vilde overvælde ham, som er ene, kunde to staa ham imod; og den tredobbelte Traad sønderrives ikke saa snart.
13 Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knows not how to take heed any longer.
Bedre faren er et ungt Menneske, som er viist, end en gammel Konge, som er en Daare, og som endnu ikke ved at lade sig advare.
14 For he shall come forth out of the house of the prisoners to reign, because [he] also that was in his kingdom has become poor.
Thi af Fangehuset udgik hin for at blive Konge, medens den, som var født i sit Kongerige, blev fattig.
15 I saw all the living who were walking under the sun, with the second youth who shall stand up in each one's place.
Jeg saa alle dem, som leve, som vandre under Solen, at holde sig til det andet unge Menneske, der indtager hans Sted.
16 There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them: and the last shall not rejoice in him: for this also is vanity and waywardness of spirit.
Der var ikke Ende paa alt det Folk, paa alt det, som han gik i Spidsen for, dog skulle Efterkommerne ikke glædes over ham: Thi ogsaa dette er Forfængelighed og Aandsfortærelse.
