Ecclesiastes 6
1 There is also another evil, which I have seen under the sun, and, indeed, it is frequent among men.
Det er en ulykke som jeg har sett under solen, og som hviler tungt på mennesket:
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.
Når Gud gir en mann rikdom og skatter og ære, så han for sin del ikke fattes noget som han attrår, men Gud ikke setter ham i stand til å nyte godt av det, men en fremmed mann får nyte det, så er det tomhet og en ond lidelse.
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.
Om en mann får hundre barn og lever i mange år, så tallet på hans levedager blir stort, men hans sjel ikke mettes av det gode, og han heller ikke får nogen jordeferd, da sier jeg: Et ufullbåret foster er bedre faren enn han.
4 For he arrives without a purpose and he continues on into darkness, and his name shall be wiped away, into oblivion.
For som et intet kom det til verden, og i mørke går det bort, og med mørke blir dets navn skjult,
5 He has not seen the sun, nor recognized the difference between good and evil.
og det har hverken sett eller kjent solen; det har mere ro enn han.
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?
Og om han så hadde levd tusen år to ganger, men ikke nytt noget godt - går ikke alt til ett sted?
7 Every labor of man is for his mouth, but his soul will not be filled.
Alt menneskets strev er for hans munn, og allikevel blir hans attrå aldri tilfredsstilt;
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?
for hvad fortrin har den vise fremfor dåren? Hvad fortrin har den fattige som vet å skikke sig blandt de levende?
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.
Bedre er det at øinene dveler ved det en har, enn at sjelen farer urolig om; også det er tomhet og jag efter vind.
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.
Hvad der er blitt til, er for lenge siden nevnt med navn, og det er kjent hvad et menneske skal bli; han kan ikke gå i rette med den som er sterkere enn han;
11 There are many words, and many of these, in disputes, hold much emptiness.
for der er mange ord som bare øker tomheten - hvad gagn har mennesket av det?
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?
For hvem vet hvad som gagner et menneske i livet, i alle hans tomme levedager, dem han tilbringer som en skygge? For hvem kan si et menneske hvad som skal hende under solen efter hans tid?
