Ecclesiastes 6
1 There is also another evil, which I have seen under the sun, and, indeed, it is frequent among men.
Il est une calamité que j'ai vue sous le soleil, et qui pèse souvent sur les humains.
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 est tel homme auquel Dieu donne des biens, des richesses et de la gloire, et cela, à ce qu'il ait de quoi ne priver son âme de rien de ce qu'il désire; et Dieu ne le laisse pas maître d'en jouir, mais c'est un étranger qui en jouit. C'est là une vanité et un mal fâcheux.
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.
Si un homme avait cent fils, et s'il vivait un grand nombre d'années, et que les jours de ses années se multipliassent, et si son âme ne se rassasiait pas de bien-être, et que de plus il restât sans sépulture, je dirais: Plus heureux que lui est l'avorton;
4 For he arrives without a purpose and he continues on into darkness, and his name shall be wiped away, into oblivion.
car celui-ci naît vainement, et il s'en va obscurément, et les ténèbres recouvrent son nom;
5 He has not seen the sun, nor recognized the difference between good and evil.
il n'a non plus ni vu ni connu le soleil: il a le repos de plus que l'autre.
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?
Que s'il vivait deux fois mille ans, mais sans jouir des biens… tout ne va-t-il pas au même rendez-vous? –
7 Every labor of man is for his mouth, but his soul will not be filled.
Tout le labeur de l'homme aboutit à sa bouche; toutefois sa cupidité n'est jamais assouvie.
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?
Quel avantage, en effet, le sage a-t-il sur le fou? Quel avantage, le pauvre qui sait vivre en face des hommes?
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.
Mieux vaut ce qui est à la portée de nos yeux, que le mouvement de la cupidité: il est aussi une vanité et un effort stérile.
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 dès longtemps été appelé par son nom; et l'on sait ce qu'est l'homme, et il ne saurait disputer avec Celui qui est plus puissant que lui.
11 There are many words, and many of these, in disputes, hold much emptiness.
Car il y a une multitude de choses qui multiplient la vanité.
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?
Qu'est-ce qui reste à l'homme? Car qui sait ce qui est bien pour l'homme dans la vie, pendant les quelques jours de sa vie de vanité qu'il passe comme l'ombre? Et qui révélera à l'homme ce qui aura lieu après lui sous le soleil?
