Ecclesiastes 6
1 There is also another evil, which I have seen under the sun, and, indeed, it is frequent among men.
Il est un mal que j’ai vu sous le soleil, et qui est fréquent parmi les hommes.
2 It is a man to whom God has given wealth, and resources, and honor; and out of all that he desires, nothing is lacking to his life; yet God does not grant him the ability to consume these things, but instead a man who is a stranger will devour them. This is emptiness and a great misfortune.
Il y a tel homme à qui Dieu a donné des richesses, des biens, et de la gloire, et qui ne manque pour son âme de rien de ce qu’il désire, mais que Dieu ne laisse pas maître d’en jouir, car c’est un étranger qui en jouira. C’est là une vanité et un mal grave.
3 If a man were to produce one hundred children, and to live for many years, and to attain to an age of many days, and if his soul were to make no use of the goods of his resources, and if he were lacking even a burial: concerning such a man, I declare that a miscarried child is better than he.
Quand un homme aurait cent fils, vivrait un grand nombre d’années, et que les jours de ses années se multiplieraient, si son âme ne s’est point rassasiée de bonheur, et si de plus il n’a point de sépulture, je dis qu’un avorton est plus heureux que lui.
4 For he arrives without a purpose and he continues on into darkness, and his name shall be wiped away, into oblivion.
Car il est venu en vain, il s’en va dans les ténèbres, et son nom reste couvert de ténèbres;
5 He has not seen the sun, nor recognized the difference between good and evil.
il n’a point vu, il n’a point connu le soleil; il a plus de repos que cet homme.
6 Even if he were to live for two thousand years, and yet not thoroughly enjoy what is good, does not each one hurry on to the same place?
Et quand celui-ci vivrait deux fois mille ans, sans jouir du bonheur, tout ne va-t-il pas dans un même lieu?
7 Every labor of man is for his mouth, but his soul will not be filled.
Tout le travail de l’homme est pour sa bouche, et cependant ses désirs ne sont jamais satisfaits.
8 What do the wise have which is more than the foolish? And what does the pauper have, except to continue on to that place, where there is life?
Car quel avantage le sage a-t-il sur l’insensé? Quel avantage a le malheureux qui sait se conduire en présence des vivants?
9 It is better to see what you desire, than to desire what you cannot know. But this, too, is emptiness and a presumption of spirit.
Ce que les yeux voient est préférable à l’agitation des désirs: c’est encore là une vanité et la poursuite du vent.
10 Whoever shall be in the future, his name has already been called. And it is known that he is a man and that he is not able to contend in judgment against one who is stronger than himself.
Ce qui existe a déjà été appelé par son nom; et l’on sait que celui qui est homme ne peut contester avec un plus fort que lui.
11 There are many words, and many of these, in disputes, hold much emptiness.
S’il y a beaucoup de choses, il y a beaucoup de vanités: quel avantage en revient-il à l’homme?
12 Why is it necessary for a man to seek things that are greater than himself, when he does not know what is advantageous for himself in his life, during the number of the days of his sojourn, and while time passes by like a shadow? Or who will be able to tell him what will be in the future after him under the sun?
Car qui sait ce qui est bon pour l’homme dans la vie, pendant le nombre des jours de sa vie de vanité, qu’il passe comme une ombre? Et qui peut dire à l’homme ce qui sera après lui sous le soleil?
