< Ecclesiastes 6 >

1 There is also another evil, which I have seen under the sun, and, indeed, it is frequent among men.
مصیبت دیگری در زیر آسمان دیدم که برای انسان طاقت فرساست.
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.
خدا به بعضی اشخاص مال و ثروت و عزت بخشیده است به طوری که هر چه دلشان بخواهد می‌توانند به دست آورند، ولی به آنها توانایی استفاده از اموالشان را نداده است، پس اموالشان نصیب دیگران می‌شود. این نیز بیهودگی و مصیبتی بزرگ است.
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.
اگر کسی صد فرزند داشته باشد و سالهای زیادی زندگی کند، اما از زندگی لذت نبرد و بعد از مرگش جنازه‌اش را با احترام دفن نکنند، می‌گویم بچهٔ سقط شده از او بهتر است.
4 For he arrives without a purpose and he continues on into darkness, and his name shall be wiped away, into oblivion.
هر چند بچهٔ سقط شده، بیهوده به دنیا می‌آید و به ظلمت فرو می‌رود و هیچ نام و نشانی از او باقی نمی‌ماند،
5 He has not seen the sun, nor recognized the difference between good and evil.
آفتاب را نمی‌بیند و از وجود آن آگاه نمی‌شود، ولی با این حال از آرامش بیشتری برخوردار است
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?
تا کسی که هزاران سال عمر کند اما روی خوشی را نبیند. از همهٔ اینها گذشته، همگی به یک جا می‌روند.
7 Every labor of man is for his mouth, but his soul will not be filled.
تمامی زحمات انسان برای شکمش است، با وجود این هرگز سیر نمی‌شود.
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?
پس برتری شخص دانا و یا فقیری که بداند چگونه زندگی کند، بر یک نادان چیست؟
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.
این نیز مانند دویدن به دنبال باد، بیهوده است. بهتر است انسان به آنچه که دارد قانع باشد تا اینکه دائم در اشتیاق کسب آنچه ندارد به سر ببرد.
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.
هر چه اتفاق می‌افتد از پیش تعیین شده و انسان خاکی نمی‌تواند با خدای قادر مطلق مجادله کند.
11 There are many words, and many of these, in disputes, hold much emptiness.
هر چه بیشتر مجادله کند، بیهودگی سخنانش آشکارتر می‌شود و هیچ سودی عایدش نمی‌گردد.
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?
کیست که بداند در این عمر کوتاه و بیهوده که همچون سایه گذراست، چه چیز برای انسان خوب است؟ و کیست که بداند در آینده در زیر این آسمان چه اتفاقی خواهد افتاد؟

< Ecclesiastes 6 >